Egyptian teacher of Russian: ‘Interest in the language in our country is growing’

Mustafa studied at the Faculty of Foreign Languages (Al-Alsun Faculty) at Ain Shams University in Cairo. At that time, there were a huge number of Russian-speaking tourists in Egypt, so local students often chose Russian.

After graduating from university in 2004, he received a tour guide license: he worked as a guide and, later, as a tour guide.

“In 2014, I started working as a Russian language teacher – first for tourism industry workers and then for students at various private centers,” says Mustafa.

Then, he entered academia and started teaching Russian at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Business at Sadat University. Today, he teaches at the Higher Institute of Tourism in Abu Qir in Alexandria, where he has about 3,000 students.

Interest in Russian in Egypt is not fading

“There’s a very great interest in the Russian language in Egypt and it’s not limited to tourism,” says Mustafa.

The two countries have many other points of contact. For example, right now Russia is building the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant near Alexandria and a joint industrial zone project near the Suez Canal is also planned soon.

Specialists with knowledge of Russian are actively being recruited to work at such facilities. “Students who know Russian have great career prospects and they can earn good money in Egypt,” admits Mustafa.

Language difficulties & big plans

As a teacher, Mustafa notices that Russian grammar – endings, noun declensions, verb conjugations – is the most difficult thing for his students.

“Moreover, we Arabs write from right to left, while in Russian they write the opposite way, from left to right.” Students need to make an effort to readjust and think in Russian, rather than just translate every word.

That’s why he is very happy when he hears students talking and joking in Russian, using complex constructions, verbs of motion and prefixes.

“Despite the difficulties that students may encounter when learning Russian, this does not diminish their enthusiasm – on the contrary, it inspires them to continue,” wrote Mustafa in his essay for the 2026 International Pushkin Competition for Teachers of Russian Language. He became one of its eventual winners.

Together with other laureates from more than 20 countries, he was invited to Moscow for the award ceremony and, of course, to meet with fellow teachers from around the world.

“I dreamed of visiting Moscow for many years, but it only happened this year – and twice at that! In June, I was here for a congress on the history of the ancient world. The second time was in September, when I became a laureate of the Pushkin Competition!”

Mustafa says he likes Russia and, in the future, plans to visit more than once and to fulfill two other dreams of his – to see St. Petersburg and to take a train ride from Moscow to Vladivostok: “Seven days enjoying the beauty of Russia for real!”