Akhlad Al-Abhar: Egrobots Aims to Localize the Robotics Industry in Egypt and the Region

Turning a personal challenge into a deep-tech company serving a vital sector such as agriculture was not an easy decision. Yet for Akhlad Al-Abhar, founder of Egrobots, it was a natural path.

His journey began with a painful loss in an agricultural investment and evolved into building a company operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, with a clear ambition to localize this industry in Egypt and the Arab world.

In this interview, Al-Abhar shares how the idea of agricultural robots was born, the challenges he faced, and his vision for the future of the industry.

Engineering Background and a Passion for Technology

Akhlad Al-Abhar chose to study technology early on, driven by strong conviction. He ranked among the top students in preparatory school and went on to study at the Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, specializing in Computer Engineering and Control Systems. This academic background laid the scientific foundation for his current entrepreneurial journey.

A Personal Experience That Sparked the Idea

The story of Egrobots began with a personal experience Al-Abhar went through while working in the banking sector in Saudi Arabia. During an investment in a palm farm in Egypt’s Bahariya Oasis, he faced significant agricultural and technical challenges that resulted in the loss of nearly 60% of the palm trees.

This loss was more than just a financial setback; it became a turning point that pushed him to seriously reflect on the absence of smart agricultural management and the urgent need for innovative solutions to address the shortcomings of traditional farming practices.

Transition to AgriTech Entrepreneurship

In mid-2022, Al-Abhar decided to fully dedicate himself to his own project in agricultural technology. After an in-depth study of the market and farmers’ needs, Egrobots was officially launched in 2023.

During this phase, the team iterated on its services and business model multiple times, aiming to deliver practical and effective solutions that respond to real challenges faced by farms on the ground, rather than theoretical concepts.

Smart Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture

Egrobots offers an integrated suite of AI-powered solutions designed to transform traditional agriculture into a smart and sustainable model.

These solutions include advanced robots for high-precision data collection and analysis, alongside artificial intelligence technologies that process this data and provide actionable recommendations. The company also delivers tailored solutions suitable for small, medium, and large farms alike, with the goal of increasing productivity, improving profitability, and optimizing resource usage, thereby enhancing sustainability across the agricultural sector.

Geographic Presence

The company’s operations are currently based in Egypt, with offices in both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. In addition, Egrobots’ AI application is available for use across all Arab countries and Africa, giving the company a broad regional footprint.

Funding and Manufacturing Challenges

Egrobots has faced several challenges, most notably the difficulty of securing funding in the agri-tech sector, as well as the complexities associated with developing hardware and robotics locally in Egypt.

Despite these obstacles, the company has successfully raised USD 500,000 to date, enabling it to continue product development and scale its operations. Egrobots has currently developed five different types of robots and aims for these products to serve as a cornerstone in efforts to localize the robotics industry in Egypt and the Arab world.

Global Recognition and a Message Beyond the Company

Egrobots achieved an unprecedented milestone by becoming the first Egyptian company to be highlighted in the main opening keynote of Google IO Connect in Berlin.

This recognition went beyond celebrating the company itself; it sent a powerful message that Egyptian minds and ideas are capable of reaching the world’s largest global platforms and competing at the highest level, a source of pride, according to Al-Abhar, for every young Egyptian pursuing a dream.

Competition and Building an Industry

Al-Abhar believes that the number of companies working on robotics development in the Egyptian market remains limited and faces significant challenges.

For this reason, Egrobots focuses on collaboration with all market players to help establish and localize the industry, ensuring its sustainability and growth across the Arab world, rather than engaging in narrow, short-term competition.

The Traffic-Regulating Robot

Beyond agriculture, the company is also working on an ambitious national project to develop a traffic-regulating robot in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Interior.

The initiative began after the ministry reached out to the company several months ago to implement the project using Egyptian expertise, as part of a long-term collaboration to support the police force, starting with traffic management.

The robot relies on AI technologies not previously used in Egypt, including conversational artificial intelligence, and has been designed with more than 70% local components. These robots are planned to be deployed on Egypt’s streets, alongside further development of similar applications across other sectors within the ministry.

Future Vision

Looking ahead, Egrobots is focusing on research and development at the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, with the aim of delivering products and services that serve both regional and global markets.

The company’s next steps also include building long-term sustainability for the robotics industry in the region and offering competitive, affordable solutions tailored to the needs of its target customers.