CAIRO, Egyptian technology company X-GEN plans to invest up to EGP 5 billion over three years to develop domestic manufacturing of drones, robotics and autonomous systems, chief executive Amir Waheed said on Saturday, as the company pursues international technology-transfer partnerships.
Waheed told Asharq Bloomberg on November 7 that X-GEN was seeking to establish a specialised manufacturing facility and localise production of unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic systems.
The company is pursuing partnerships with technology providers in China, France and Saudi Arabia to support knowledge transfer and industrial development. No final agreements or construction timetable have been disclosed.
In a separate interview with Hapi, Waheed clarified that the EGP 5 billion target covers direct and indirect investment over the next three years, including local manufacturing, industrial facilities and technology development, rather than a confirmed expenditure exclusively on factory construction.
X-GEN has already invested approximately EGP 1 billion, according to Waheed, mainly in commercial agreements, technology localisation and research and development capabilities.
The company has begun limited domestic production but has not yet commissioned a fully integrated manufacturing facility.
Waheed said certain drone models have achieved local-content levels approaching 90%, although the company has not published an independently verified breakdown of their components.
The announcement coincided with Cairo ICT 2026, where Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited X-GEN’s exhibition stand on November 7.
The company presented technologies covering aerial drones, autonomous ground robots and unmanned marine systems, with potential applications in agriculture, energy, industry and infrastructure monitoring.
X-GEN is also pursuing commercial opportunities in Gulf markets and Libya. Waheed separately outlined a target of approximately EGP 5 billion in business and sales over three years, distinct from the proposed investment programme.
The expansion could strengthen Egypt’s advanced-manufacturing capabilities, reduce dependence on imported specialised equipment and create opportunities for exports of locally developed technologies.
However, the economic gains will depend on the extent of domestic component manufacturing, successful technology transfer and the company’s ability to secure commercial orders.
X-GEN has not disclosed a complete financing plan, binding production-capacity targets or a firm commissioning date for its proposed facility.
The decisive milestone will be moving from limited domestic production to scalable manufacturing supported by confirmed contracts and measurable Egyptian value added.
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