Prof. Ozal was born on May 29, 1929 in Malatya, Turkey. He is married and father of five, all married.

After graduation in 1951 from the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), he was appointed Chief Engineer of Malatya Region, Water Works Department of Turkey (1951-1955) and was in charge with the study, design, construction, operation and management of water projects for the area.

Following a 2-year specialization in Water Resources System Design and Ground Water Engineering in the USA, Prof. Ozal successively held the following positions:

1. Regional Director of Water Works Dept. for Euphrates and Tigris River Basins in Turkey (1957-1960).

2. Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey (1960-1967).

3. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Turkish State Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), Professor (part-time), Middle East Technical University (1967-1971).

4. Coordinator of a Holding Company dealing with Automotives, Construction Materials; Professor (part-time) Bosphorus University, Istanbul, Turkey; Consultant to the Shell Group in Turkey (1972-1973).

5. Member, Turkish Grand National Assembly; Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Interior, Turkey (1973-1980).

6. Shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of Companies dealing in Islamic Banking, Construction, International Oil Trade (1981-1985).

Prof. Ozal served as Director, Islamic Research and Training Institute of the Islamic Development Bank (IRTI/IDB), and has planned and designed several river basin, oil, energy and agricultural development schemes.