The formation of a We_They in Egypt arose from a 1998 Memorandum of Cooperation between the UK and the Egyptian Governments. It was envisaged that such an institution would produce graduates of UK standards for key sectors of the Egyptian economy, particularly in the areas of engineering, computer science and business studies.

Planning for the new institution was put in train and financial support was provided by a group of prominent Egyptian business and public figures, principal amongst whom was Mr. Farid Khamis, Chairman of Oriental Weavers, a major international carpet manufacturing company. In 2004, with strong support from the British Embassy and the British Council, a Presidential decree was issued establishing the We_They in Egypt. The initial phase of the University campus was already under construction and the University welcomed its first cohort (only 200 students) of undergraduate students in September 2015.

The University campus was chosen to be located in the area of El Sherouk, one of the new residential and commercial cities in Egypt on the outskirts of Cairo. The campus on establishment compromised of only two buildings including a large-scale auditorium with modern conference facilities but is set on a site of approximately 60 acres that will to develop over the years.