Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi swore in Hussein Mohamed Ahmed Issa as the country’s new Minister of Economic Affairs on Wednesday, February 10, 2026, as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle. The appointment signals a push to bolster Egypt’s economic policies with high-level academic and international legislative expertise.
Dr. Hussein Issa is considered a prominent economic and accounting figure in Egypt. His appointment comes as the nation navigates a complex economic landscape and seeks to attract foreign investment.
Who is Dr. Hussein Issa?
Dr. Issa has a distinguished academic background, beginning with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting major) from Ain Shams University in 1977, where he graduated first in his class with honors. He continued his education at the same university, earning a Master’s degree in Accounting in 1986, and later a Ph.D. In Accounting from the United States International University in San Diego, California, in 1992.
He progressed through the academic ranks at Ain Shams University’s Faculty of Commerce, starting as a teaching assistant in the Accounting and Auditing Department (1977-1986), then as an assistant lecturer (1986-1992), lecturer (1993-1998), assistant professor (1999-2005), and finally achieving the rank of professor in 2005, a position he currently holds.
The new minister has extensive experience in university administration and legislative roles, having served as President of Ain Shams University (2012-2016), Vice President for Education and Student Affairs (2012), and Dean of the Faculty of Commerce for multiple terms. He also contributed to legislative and oversight work as a member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Planning and Budget Committee (2016-2020).
On the governmental and advisory level, Dr. Issa has held key positions, including Coordinator of the Economic Development Specialized Council affiliated with the Presidency, Chairman of the Technical Secretariat for Restructuring Economic Bodies, and Advisor to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development for Economic Bodies. He has also served as a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and the Coordination Council for Financial and Monetary Policies.
Dr. Issa’s contributions extend to serving on the boards of major financial institutions, including the National Investment Bank, Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt, and the Holding Company for Transportation (Land and Sea). He also served as the Non-Executive Chairman of Vacsera for Vaccines and Sera and the Non-Executive Chairman of the Egyptian Financial Company for Sovereign Sukuk, as well as a financial and economic advisor to the Federation of Egyptian Industries.
He has also enriched Arabic and international libraries with numerous publications and research in areas such as managerial accounting, cost management systems, and computer applications. He has supervised more than 70 master’s and doctoral dissertations and participated in international associations such as the American Accounting Association and the Institute of Management Accountants in the United States. He has also participated in numerous international conferences and scientific missions in Washington, New York, Boston, and San Francisco.
