Minor Hotels will introduce its luxury Anantara brand to Egypt under a new joint venture inked with locally based SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises, which will also see it launch Nile cruise operations.
The deal will expand Minor’s footprint across Egypt’s rapidly growing tourism market, outlining an ambitious roadmap to open and manage up to 50 hotels across the country over the next decade.
Development will span both urban hubs and key leisure destinations such as West Cairo, Azha Ras El Hekma on the North Coast, and Azha Ain Al Sokhna.
“Signing this joint venture with SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises is an important milestone as we bring Minor Hotels’ brands and hospitality expertise to Egypt, one of the world’s most storied and inspiring destinations,” William E. Heinecke, Chairman & Founder of Minor International, said.
“Together, we are charting a long-term vision that combines SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises’ deep local knowledge with our global reach to deliver exceptional luxury and lifestyle experiences across Egypt’s leading destinations.”
As part of the agreement, Minor Hotels will take on the management of seven initial projects, which will include a mix of operational hotels, brownfield conversions and greenfield developments.
The agreement also extends beyond traditional hospitality to include Nile cruise operations between Aswan and Luxor. Drawing on Minor’s success in Asia with cruise brands Mekong Kingdom and Loy Pela, the new cruises aim to “reinforce Egypt’s appeal as one of the world’s most iconic travel destinations.”
Chairman of SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises and Madaar Developments Hossam El Shaer said the collaboration reflects a “shared vision” to elevate Egypt’s hotel and tourism industry. “This Partnership signals strong global confidence in Egypt’s economy and directly supports the goals of Egypt’s Vision 2030,” he said.
The signing ceremony was held at the office of H.E. Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly, and attended by H.E. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, highlighting the national significance of the partnership.
