Incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is set to win the election (Photo: Getty Image)

The candidates running in the race include the incumbent President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Abdel-Sanad Yamama (head of the Wafd Party), Hazem Omar (head of the Republican People’s Party), and Farid Zahran (head of the Egyptian Democratic Party).

The National Elections Committee (NEC) has set up approximately 11,600 sub-polling committees within 9,300 electoral centers nationwide. A total of 15,000 judges from various judicial authorities will oversee the electoral process. A total of 4,200 journalists and media professionals have been granted permits to cover the event.

If the elections are decided in the first round, the results will be announced on 18 December. In the event of a runoff, the second round of voting will be held in early next month.  However, according to analysts, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is forecast to win right in the first round.

Egypt’s presidential election is overshadowed by the negative impacts of Russia-Ukraine conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. Egyptian economy has been gripped by the most severe financial crisis in its recent history – inflation has hovered near 40% after the currency lost half its value and drove up the cost of imports. Egyptian security is facing challenges in a region full of instability.

Choosing a leader capable of bringing Egypt out of its current difficult economic situation and maintaining the country's security and stability is the top concern of Egyptian voters.