El-Abd joined Brighton's youth department when he was ten and was granted a scholarship there at 16. He signed his first professional contract of two-and-a-half years with Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of 19. He made his full league début for the club in the 2–1 win at Notts County in November 2003. He has since been a regular in the first team squad and can play either in defence at right-back or centre-half, or in a more defensive midfield type role.