Held at Misr Italia’s Cairo Business Park, the Creative Industry Summit celebrated a decade of impact with a groundbreaking edition of its annual festival. The event featured over 170 speakers and covered various industries—including marketing, design, fashion, media, technology, and real estate—and was a beacon in Egypt’s creative landscape. If you missed the Creative Industry Summit’s Annual Festival, this recap has you covered with all the key highlights. We will bring you up to speed with this celebration of creativity and the industry’s most significant moments.

Global Reach and a Stellar Lineup

In its 2024 edition, marking 10 years of transformative influence, the Creative Industry Summit Annual Festival brought together pioneers from the MENA region and global icons alike to Egypt, transcending borders and elevating the country’s creative economy. From workshops to industry-elevating partnerships, we’re here to ensure you miss nothing from this landmark event.

Highlights: Panels, Key Discussions, and Industry Insights

Starting with the highlights, the festival’s key panels and discussions delivered something for everyone. Starting with “The Business of Creative Impact” workshop, highlighting the impact of creativity on the economy with industry pioneers such as Sarah Moussa, Regional Communications Lead, International Finance Corporation (IFC); Sara Onsi, Founder and Creative Director, Sara Onsi Fashion House; Amy Mowafi, Co-founder and CEO, MO4 Network; and Neamat Khalil – Founding Partner, Creative Industry Summit, to the “Real Estate & Creativity” panel, discussions centred on the intersection of creativity into real estate innovation. Here, Karim El Assal, CEO of Misr Italia Properties, shared his perspective on the role of creativity in real estate, stating, “Together, we’re not just collaborating; we’re building an environment where creativity thrives, inspiring innovation and fostering connections.”

The spotlight on Egyptian filmmaking continued with a session dedicated to Voy! Voy! Voy!, titled “From Nile to Hollywood: Voy! Voy! Voy! Egyptian Filmmaking Quest for Oscar Gold”, the engaging discussion with creative minds, including Mohamed Hefzy, Screenwriter and Producer, CEO and Founder of Film Clinic and Film Clinic Indie Distribution; Omar Hilal, Film Director, Producer, and Writer; and Mohamed Farrag, Actor. All led by Sherif Nour El Din, a Media Personality at UMC, who skillfully moderated the conversation.

For all the content enthusiasts, you were remembered. Tayarah and UTURN collaborated to empower creators across the Arab world, marking a significant step forward in revolutionising content creation within the region.

Regarding live application, hands-on workshops complemented the panels, boosting creativity through practical action in AI, car design, and light calligraphy, led by industry pioneers. The workshops catered to various levels of expertise between a beginner’s workshop discussing data analysis and its impact on creative content by Mohamed Salem, Executive Director of TAC Universe, to elevated workshops such as Brief, Strategy, and AI by Mohamed Abbas, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Matter, who introduced a hands-on experience exploring AI’s role in creative processes, from brief development to strategic planning.

Lastly, the programme’s highlight was a lively experiential zone, with interactive activations from companies like Fifth Dimension, Phlog, Big Buzz Network, and Offbeat, as well as live performances by Peace Cake and Irtigalia.

Significant Announcements: Regional Expansion and Co-Branding Initiatives

The festival was full of surprises, showcasing several major announcements with lasting impact across various sectors. These included a partnership expansion into Saudi Arabia for the Creative Industry Summit, announced by Mai Salama, Founding Partner of the Creative Industry Summit, and Rayan Altuaymi, CEO of Foaj Group, aimed at strengthening the creative industry there. Another highlight was the announcement of a co-branded office partnership between the Creative Industry Summit and Misr Italia Properties, to be launched in the New Administrative Capital’s Radical 1, which will further boost Egypt’s creative economy.

Mai Salama shared her pride, stating, “We are proud to celebrate 10 years of impact. The partnerships we’ve announced today—including our unprecedented project with Misr Italia Properties in Egypt and the exciting new developments with Foaj Group in Saudi Arabia—are proof of how much more we can achieve together in the years to come.”

As the festival came to a close, Neamat Khalil, Co-Founder of the Creative Industry Summit, reflected on the event’s legacy and future, stating, “The success of this year’s festival is just the beginning. We are committed to growing our platform and expanding opportunities for the creative economy across the MENA region and beyond.”