The Helwan Cyber Arena 2025 Hackathon at Helwan University concluded successfully after being held from 14 to 16 September. The event was organized by the Faculty of Engineering under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in partnership with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), represented by the Egyptian National Computer Emergency Response Team (EG-CERT), and Cyshield, a leading cybersecurity company. Over 200 students from various Egyptian universities participated in the hackathon.

The event aimed to enhance students’ skills in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, supporting universities’ role in Egypt’s digital transformation and Vision 2030. Key topics included cybersecurity threats, personal data protection, combating cyber extortion, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and optimal implementation of cybersecurity policies to ensure maximum protection of personal data.

During the hackathon, the NTRA showcased its major achievements in cybersecurity at both national and regional levels, including:

• Egypt ranking in Category I globally in the Global Cybersecurity Index by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for 2024.

• Egypt advancing 39 positions in the regulatory framework index for mobile wallets, reaching 6th place globally.

• NTRA achieving Level 5 (Advanced) in the ITU Regulatory Performance Index, the highest global regulatory level.

• Launch of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, providing a roadmap for building a secure digital environment.

The hackathon highlighted the NTRA’s commitment to fostering cybersecurity awareness and digital innovation among youth, preparing the next generation of experts to support a secure and resilient digital ecosystem in Egypt.