As the history of mankind testifies, the highest ruling elite can play a decisive role in the processes of national revival of entire peoples. This is due to the extensive opportunities it has in determining the main vectors of the political, socio-economic, cultural and spiritual development of its countries. In this context, the activity of the rulers of Egypt of the XIX century deserves attention, especially the military-political, socio-economic, cultural and educational transformations carried out under Muhammad Ali, Abbas I, Said Pasha and Khedive Ismail Pasha. In the nineteenth century, Egypt began to implement state programs for the modernization of production, education and the army. The creation of European-style institutions of power caused social transformations. It should also be borne in mind that during that period of history, despite its formal dependence on the Ottoman Empire, Egypt actually turned into one of the leading largely independent states of the Middle East and North Africa. This fact was supported, first of all, by the presence of the country's strong mobile land army, as well as the navy.The article deals with the reforms in the sphere of politics, economy and social life, started by Muhammad Ali and continued by his successors in the context of modernizing transformations in Egypt in modern times.