The North African nations will hold its elections between December 10 and 12, however critics say this is a non-event after a decade-long crackdown on dissent.
While the possible outcome of the polls remained unquestioned, economic pressures including soaring prices have driven public debate and stirred criticism of Sisi's record.
Over nearly a decade in power, Sisi has presented himself as a guarantor of stability in a volatile region, a message that has added traction in a year when two conflicts, in Sudan and Gaza, have erupted on Egypt's borders.
Politically, the Gaza war was a "God-given gift, despite all the misery … which allows the sidelining of the entire presidential election story," said Khaled Dawoud, a leading member of the Civil Democratic Movement, a coalition of opposition parties and figures that has fractured over whether to boycott or compete in the election.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for the president to rally support around him, especially at a time of economic crisis," Dawoud added.
Sisi announced that his campaign would be curtailed to save funds for aid to Gaza, though giant posters showing his face have proliferated on roadsides and buildings.
The incumbent leader's campaign office did not respond to requests for comment.
In an interview on Egyptian TV on Wednesday, Sisi’s campaign manager Mahmoud Fawzy said the incumbent president had prioritized rebuilding the state since he came to power and that political participation "may not have been the top priority for everyone".
Fawzy dismissed ideas of competition in the elections being unfair.
"Anyone who may be considering running in the elections against our candidate must think twice for one reason. Our candidate has significant achievements and wide popularity, but the race was open to everyone," Fawzy said.
Egypt's State Information Service said in a statement on Thursday that the election was a step towards opening up political competition.
Sisi has overseen a far-reaching crackdown since leading the 2013 ouster of Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood. The incumbent leader retains the support of a military establishment that has gained further political and economic influence under his rule.
The Muslim Brotherhood, traditionally Egypt's most powerful opposition force, has been driven underground or abroad.
In order to try to channel popular frustrations, authorities did not want a repeat of the previous two presidential elections, in which Sisi was declared winner with 97% of the vote, said Medhat el-Zahed, head of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, which is boycotting the vote.
"They needed to have a certain degree of competition ... so long as the ceiling is defined and in check," el-Zahed said.
Three candidates qualified to stand against Sisi. All are low-profile figures muted in their criticism of his record.
One of them, Wafd Party head Abdel Sanad Yamama, said there was not even a need for Sisi to explain himself in the media like other candidates, because his achievements spoke for themselves.
A national dialogue held earlier this year allowed the airing of some critical views and was accompanied by some pardons for prisoners, but arrests continued.
Egypt is dominated by Sisi supporters, and the media is tightly controlled by his allies.
A campaign by leftist politician Ahmed al-Tantawy, the most prominent potential opposition candidate, briefly tapped into pent-up discontent before he halted his run, citing pressure from pro-government forces.
Al-Tantawy is now facing a judicial case on allegations of illicitly circulating forms to collect endorsements for his candidacy.
"Where are the elections?" Tantawy said in an interview. "The president is competing with whoever he chooses to compete against."
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