Austerity-preaching president Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi carpeted by Arab media for requiring 2.5-mile-long rug to open social housing Egyptian president Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi is facing criticism after a giant red carpet was laid over public roads for his motorcade during a trip to open a social housing project in Cairo.Images of the scene prompted ridicule on social media, with a hashtag mocking the carpet trending in Arabic.