He is best known for his contributions to network information theory, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and CMOS imaging sensors and systems.

Likewise, he was a pioneer in the development of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA)—a type of integrated circuit that can be electrically reconfigured to implement differing functions.

El Gamal was also a key figure in the development of CMOS image sensors, the technology widely used today in cell phone and digital cameras.

[8] In 1984, El Gamal joined LSI as director of its newly formed Systems Research Laboratory, which evolved into the company's very successful Consumer Product Division.

[citation needed] In 2011, El Gamal co-founded Inscopix, a neurotech company developing tools to enable monitoring of brain activity in vivo.

Theory – with J. Mammen, B. Prabhakar, and D. Shah 2002: "Energy-efficient Packet Transmission over a Wireless Link," IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking –with E. Uysal-Biyikoglu and B. Prabhakar 2001: "A 10,000 Frames/s CMOS Digital Pixel Sensor," IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits – with S. Kleinfelder, S. Lim, X. Liu 1982: Achievable rates for multiple descriptions – with T. Cover 1979: Capacity theorems for the relay channel – with T. Cover