Ambassador Fahmy has had a long and distinguished diplomatic career with a particular focus on curbing nuclear proliferation. The ambassador has written many books and articles on the issue of nuclear proliferation. He began his career in 1974 in the Cabinet of the secretary of the president for external communications. From 1975 until 1976, he was a political officer in the Cabinet of the vice president of Egypt. In 1976, he began his work in the Cabinet of the minister of foreign affairs. From 1978 until 1982, he was the second secretary of the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations for the Conference on Disarmament. He continued his work on disarmament and peaceful nuclear energy issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1982 until 1984. In 1986, he became the first secretary to the United Nations and later counselor, where he worked on the disarmament issue. In 1991, he became the senior disarmament official for the Department of International Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He quickly rose to the position of Counselor and remained until 1995. In 1997 he was appointed ambassador to Japan, which he held until 1999. In January 1999, he became member of the United Nations' Secretary General's Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters.

Ambassador Fahmy has a bachelor of science degree from the American University in Cairo and a master's of art degree in management from the same school.

He is married with two daughters and one son.