Abd al-Fattah Ismail (1939-1986) was the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Council, head of state of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, from 21 December 1978 to 21 April 1980 when he went into exile. He was succeeded by Ali Nasir Muhammad.

Ismail was a member of the Socialist Party of Yemen .

On January 13, 1986, a violent struggle began in Aden between Ali Nasir's supporters and supporters of Ismail who had returned to the country. Fighting lasted for more than a month and resulted in thousands of casualties, Ali Nasir's ouster, and Ismail's death. Some 60,000 people, including the deposed Ali Nasir, fled to North Yemen.