In August 2005, Al-Mashat returned to Egypt at the invitation of Minister of Investment Mahmoud Mohieldin to help modernise the bank's systems and dealings, where she worked as sub-governor and head of the Monetary Policy Department for the Central Bank of Egypt until May 2016. After the 2011 revolution, she helped construct and present the Government's Economic Program. She also taught economics at the American University in Cairo and served on the Boards of the Egyptian Exchange, Arab International Bank and the Middle East Economic Association.