Ismail, who had been assistant to President El-Sisi for national projects since June 2018, died on Saturday at the age of 67.

The funeral prayers were held at Lt. Gen. Hussein Tantawi Mosque in New Cairo in the presence of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hanafy El-Gebaly and Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki.

El-Sisi offered condolences to the family of the deceased. He said Ismail was a brilliant national figure and had sincerely served the nation during a critical phase. Ismail is greatly appreciated by Egypt and its people, Sisi noted in a tweet yesterday.

Ismail was born on 6 July, 1955. He graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University in 1978. He worked for Egypt’s Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries (ENPPI) from 1979 until 2000.

Ismail also served as undersecretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources from 2000 until 2005. He served as the board chairman of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) from 2005 until 2007. He then chaired the board of the South Valley Egyptian Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) from 2007 until 2013.

Ismail served as petroleum minister from July 2013 through September 2015.

In September 2015, he was named prime minister and served until June 2018.

From his side, Madbouly asserted on Sunday that the deceased had given much in the service of the nation through the public positions he had assumed.

The premier noted that the nation will not forget these great contributions and will always remember them with gratitude, loyalty and appreciation.

Ismail was a model of loyalty, giving and sincerity, Madbouly said, adding that he who continued to serve his country until his death.

We learned a lot from him, Madbouly concluded.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry also expressed condolences to Ismail’s family and friends on Sunday, stating that Ismail was a great man who led the nation during difficult times in the face of tremendous challenges.