From 26 November to 3 December, Sahara Connect brought together artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and a journey of discovery in the Algerian Sahara. Behind the initiative were three French-Algerian entrepreneurs: Morad Attik, an AI specialist and founder of Evolukid; Abdelkrim Bennour, an executive and founder of the Sdam movement; and Sofiane Lesage, founder of the digital travel agency Riwaya Travel. Their aim was to explore the possibilities of AI in tourism while building connections within the Algerian diaspora’s entrepreneurial community in France.
An initiative with deep roots
The Algerian Sahara is more than a desert: its vast landscapes reveal a remarkable natural heritage. Against this backdrop, Sahara Connect brought technology and tourism together through an immersive seminar conceived by its founders.
Sahara Connect grew from its founders’ wish to honour their Algerian heritage while exploring the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. Morad Attik, known for his AI expertise and educational projects with young Algerians, highlighted the technology’s potential to transform many sectors.
A seminar in two stages
The event took participants to Tassili n’Ajjer, near Djanet, for an immersion in one of the Algerian Sahara’s most striking regions. Entrepreneurship, technological innovation and cultural discovery came together in a programme intended to benefit participants and the local economy. Workshops addressed personal and professional development, with specialists leading sessions on entrepreneurship, tourism and artificial intelligence to broaden knowledge, encourage discussion and inspire new ideas.
Sahara Connect combined two complementary stages. In Algiers, conferences and professional discussions explored entrepreneurship and AI. Encounters with Algerian history and collective memory also gave participants a deeper understanding of their country of origin and its potential.
The second stage took the group to Djanet and Tassili n’Ajjer National Park, where the focus shifted to stepping away from digital distractions and reconnecting with themselves. The desert setting encouraged warm exchanges with Tuareg communities and a closer encounter with the Sahara.
Morad Attik emphasised the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for tourism and society as a whole. Through Sahara Connect, he brought together his interests in innovation and his country of origin.
Several shared ambitions
Sahara Connect pursued several goals. For Sofiane Lesage, it was an opportunity to reconnect members of the Algerian diaspora with their identity by discovering or rediscovering the country’s beauty and possibilities. The initiative also sought to strengthen links across Algeria’s entrepreneurial community, especially among people in France wishing to contribute to the country’s development. Moving on to Djanet offered a chance to leave digital distractions behind and reconnect with nature in the Sahara.
Abdelkrim Bennour focused on personal development, authenticity and the self-knowledge that time in the desert can encourage. Away from everyday distractions, participants had space to reflect on their identity and their personal and professional futures.
Looking back and looking ahead
Sahara Connect went beyond a seminar on AI and entrepreneurship. It combined technology and tradition, professional exchanges and personal enthusiasm, individual reflection and community. By bringing together around 150 people from different backgrounds to consider Algeria’s digital future while reconnecting with their roots, the organisers sought to build links between generations and cultures.
Through this initiative, Morad Attik, Abdelkrim Bennour and Sofiane Lesage contributed to conversations about Algeria’s entrepreneurial future, showing how technology and cultural heritage can support one another across generations.
