Ismail Sabry Abdullah

Ismail Sabri Abdullah, also known as Ismail Sabri Abdallah, (; 1924 – 6 November 2006) was an Egyptian economist and politician who held some cabinet posts in the early 1970s. He was the cofounder of the Communist Party and was imprisoned several times due to his Communist activities and views.

Early life and education Abdullah was born in Mallawi, Minya, Egypt, in 1924. He was a graduate of the Faculty of Commerce at Cairo University. He was a cofounder of the Communist Party which he headed with Fuad Mursi. Following his graduation, Abdullah joined Alexandria University where he worked as a lecturer between 1951 and 1954. He was made minister of state for planning in 1972 which he held until 1975. One of his main activities during his ministerial term was the negotiations about the American aid packages. Abdullah was the last member of the Egyptian leftist technocrats serving in the Egyptian government. Although he was assigned to many public posts, he was imprisoned several times between 1955 and 1964 under the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser due to his Communist political leaning.

Abdullah founded the Third World Forum in 1975 and headed it for a while.

During the 1970s and 1980s Abdullah analysed the Chinese economic model to offer a solution to the economic development of the Arab world.

Personal life and death Abdullah was married to Gulpery Aflatoun whom he met in Paris during his doctorate studies in the 1940s. He died on 6 November 2006.

Awards Abdullah was the recipient of the Order of the Republic (1974) and of the French Order of Merit (1975).