The Department of Petroleum Engineering was the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, established to provide specialized engineering personnel essential for developing one of the country’s most important natural resources. Teaching in petroleum engineering began in the fall of 1944, when 16 students enrolled in the second year of the newly formed Mining and Petroleum Engineering Department. One year later, 10 students specialized in mining and six in petroleum, and the first petroleum engineering graduates completed their degrees in 1947. Remarkably, nearly 50 years later, two of these graduates remain active in the local industry.

The number of graduates grew steadily over the years. From the initial six in 1947, the number reached a peak of 35 in 1962, following the formation of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and the discovery of the Belayim-Land field. Between 1963 and 1965, the department maintained 30–39 graduates per year, before experiencing a slight decline in the late 1960s. The 1970s and 1980s saw another surge, with a record of 68 graduates in 1972. Over the first fifty years, more than 1,300 graduates contributed to the petroleum industry in Egypt and in over 20 countries worldwide.

Over time, the department expanded its infrastructure to support both undergraduate and postgraduate education, including the establishment of laboratories, a computer center, and a library shared with related programs in mining and metallurgy. From its earliest days, the department maintained strong and longstanding relationships with the petroleum industry, with alumni and faculty actively participating in collaborations, consulting, and continuing education initiatives.