Egypt’s 2025 Open Data Policy

The Egyptian Government has taken a major step toward digital transformation and transparency with the release of its Open Data Policy (2025), issued by the National Council for Artificial Intelligence. The policy lays out a roadmap for how government-held, non-sensitive data will be made openly available to the public, driving accountability, innovation and economic growth.

Why Open Data Matters

In today’s digital age, data is more than numbers and statistics, it is a catalyst for better governance, smarter services and new opportunities. By opening up public data in machine-readable formats, Egypt aims to foster civic participation, improve decision-making and stimulate entrepreneurship. This policy comes at a transitional moment, preceding the forthcoming Data Governance Law and its classification framework, which will provide a permanent legal foundation.

The Open Data Policy is designed to:

1. Strengthen transparency, accountability and public trust.

2. Enable innovative digital products and services.

3. Improve public service delivery and efficiency.

4. Support evidence-based policymaking.

5. Align with global standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Guiding Principles

To ensure meaningful impact, the policy is anchored in five principles:

1. Open by Default – Non-sensitive datasets will be made accessible unless exempted by national security, privacy, or contractual restrictions.

2. Timeliness – Data must be updated regularly and released promptly to maximize relevance.

3. Accessibility and Usability – Data should be published in open formats (CSV, JSON, XML), with Arabic metadata and visualizations to ensure inclusivity.

4. Free of Charge – Most datasets will be free, though limited cost recovery may apply for specialized services like Application Programming Interface (APIs).

5. Data Quality – All datasets must be accurate, complete and well-documented with metadata and update logs.

Why this matters for Africa’s digital future

Egypt’s Open Data Policy is more than a national milestone, it is a signal to the rest of Africa. Across the continent, governments are grappling with how to balance innovation, security and inclusivity in their digital transformation journeys. By making data openly available, Egypt is creating the conditions for digital economies to thrive, citizens to hold leaders accountable and entrepreneurs to build solutions that respond to local and emerging realities.

Some African countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa have made progress through open data initiatives and frameworks. However, many others lack comprehensive open data policies that clearly define responsibilities, standards, and safeguards. This uneven landscape has slowed momentum toward building strong, inclusive and interoperable national data systems.

The African Union’s Data Policy Framework (2024) recognizes this gap and calls on member states to adopt open data practices as a cornerstone of digital governance. It emphasizes that interoperable standards and integrated national data systems are critical for reducing barriers to market entry, fostering entrepreneurial development and driving innovation. With open data at the foundation, African countries can unlock new opportunities for cross-border trade, digital services and regional integration.

Egypt’s policy provides a blueprint for Africa: a way to harness the power of open data to strengthen accountability, unlock innovation and build the foundations of a sustainable, inclusive digital future.