The longest-tenured Egyptian head of state

The longest-tenured Egyptian head of state, Mubarak has
enjoyed unprecedented support for most of his term as presi-
dent. Particularly popular have been his programs that have
supported women’s rights and allowed a liberalized influx of
Western market goods. He has further developed the country’s
infrastructure, especially in the southern part of the country,
where he has built industrial facilities and new communities.
In addition, he has been responsible for the construction of
bridges across the Nile and several power plants to gener-
ate electricity. And there are plans to build a 1,000-megawatt
nuclear power plant on the Mediterranean coast at al-Dabaa.
Mubarak also has played a key role in strengthening his nation’s
role in the global economy by using Egypt’s prime location—it
serves as a gateway between Europe, Africa, and the Middle
East—to his advantage.
Mubarak took control of Egypt during turbulent times. In
1981, when he assumed power, Egypt had only recently signed
the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty, which came on the heels
of the Camp David Accords. Not only did he have to man-
age relations with Israel, Mubarak also had to pacify an Arab