Hassan Allam joins American University in Cairo board

The American University in Cairo has elected Egyptian businessman Hassan Allam to its Board of Trustees, adding one of the country’s most influential executives to its governing body. Allam, chief executive of Hassan Allam Holding, is an AUC alumnus with decades of experience in engineering, construction and large-scale development across the Middle East and beyond.

AUC welcomes an Alumnus back

Mark Turnage (ALU ’82), chair of AUC’s Board of Trustees, said Allam’s appointment strengthens the University’s leadership at a moment when higher education in the region continues to evolve.

“We are pleased to welcome Hassan Allam to our board,” Turnage said. “He has always been a strong partner to AUC and remains a proud graduate who has supported the University while contributing to the preservation of Egypt’s culture and heritage. His insight and experience will be invaluable.”

A career built across the region

Allam graduated from AUC’s civil engineering program and has led Hassan Allam Holding since 2009. The privately held group works in about 10 countries and covers energy, water, industrial development and logistics. It now manages roughly $6 billion in active projects.

In 2025, the company placed 45th on the Engineering News-Record list of the world’s top 250 contractors, reflecting its expanded regional footprint. His leadership has also steered major wins. Hassan Allam Construction secured a $550 million New Cairo project tied to Egypt’s urban development plans and also won a contract to build water and wastewater infrastructure in Muscat, Oman.

Beyond his corporate role, Allam is active in several organizations, including the Young Presidents’ Organization, the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies, the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and the British Egyptian Business Association. He recently received AUC’s Global Impact Award for guiding the Grand Egyptian Museum project from planning to operation through Legacy for Management & Development, a Hassan Allam Holding subsidiary.

About AUC and its board

AUC’s Board of Trustees includes volunteers from Egypt, the United States and other countries who contribute their time and expertise to support the university’s mission. Founded in 1919, AUC is an American-accredited institution and a center of academic and cultural life in the region. It remains an independent, nonprofit, and non-partisan institution accredited in both Egypt and the United States.