Mandarin Oriental Announces Opening of its First Hotel in Egypt

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a management deal to revamp Cairo, Egypt’s historic Shepheard Hotel.

The Shepheard Hotel, which was opened in 1841 on the Nile’s eastern bank, is a city icon.

Mandarin Oriental announced that the facility is undergoing a “comprehensive” makeover, with Paris-based interior designer Sybille de Margerie in charge of preserving the building’s heritage design while improving its facilities and services.

The hotel will reopen in 2024 as Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo, and will be the group’s first property in Egypt.

It will include 188 rooms and 88 suites when it is finished, many of which will have balconies with views of the city, the Nile, and Gezira Island.

Five restaurants and bars will be available to guests, including an al fresco rooftop restaurant and an exclusive club lounge.

The hotel will also contain a rooftop ballroom and the Mandarin Oriental Spa, which will include eight treatment suites, an indoor lap pool, a rooftop swimming pool, a beauty salon, and a fitness center. A children’s club will also be available.

The hotel in Downtown Cairo is adjacent to the city’s attractions, such as the Egyptian Museum, the Khan el-Khalili Souq, and the Al-Azhar Mosque, and provides easy access to the river, significant business buildings, stores, restaurants, and cafes.

James Riley, the group CEO of Mandarin Oriental, said: “We are delighted to extend Mandarin Oriental’s renowned levels of hospitality into Egypt and to work with [project developers] Al Sharif Group Holding on bringing this iconic and historic hotel back to life.

“The project presents an ideal opportunity to further grow our brand in the Middle East & Africa, and we look forward to creating many unique experiences for our guests.”

The President of Al-Sharif Group, Nawaf Faiz Al-Sharif, added: “Mandarin Oriental is an award-winning international brand, renowned for its exemplary service and attention to detail.

“They are the ideal partner for this unique project, and we look forward to working together on enhancing Cairo’s appeal and creating the most sophisticated luxury hotel in the city.”