Minor Hotels Expands Presence in Egypt Through SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises Joint Venture
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouly, Tourism Minister Sherif Fathi, Hossam El Shaer and William E. Heinecke.
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A Strategic Partnership for Egypt’s Hospitality Growth
Minor Hotels, a leading global hospitality group with properties across 59 countries, has entered a joint venture agreement with SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises to strengthen its presence in Egypt. The signing took place in the presence of H.E. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and H.E. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi, highlighting the significance of this alliance for Egypt’s expanding tourism industry.
Ambitious Hotel Development Plans
The partnership aims to open and operate up to 50 hotels within the next decade, covering both urban and leisure destinations such as West Cairo, Azha Ras El Hekma on the North Coast, and Azha Ain Al Sokhna.
Initially, Minor Hotels will manage seven projects, including operational hotels, brownfield conversions, and greenfield developments. A key highlight will be the debut of Anantara Hotels & Resorts, Minor’s flagship luxury brand, across Egypt.
Expansion into Nile Cruise Experiences
Beyond land-based developments, the collaboration will extend to Nile cruise operations in Aswan and Luxor, inspired by Minor Hotels’ successful Asian river cruise brands such as Mekong Kingdoms and Loy Pela. This initiative will further enhance Egypt’s global appeal as a premier travel destination.
William E. Heinecke, Chairman & Founder of Minor International, parent company of Minor Hotels, stated:
“This joint venture with SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises marks a significant milestone. We’re blending Minor Hotels’ international hospitality expertise with SUNRISE’s local strength to create outstanding luxury and lifestyle experiences throughout Egypt.”
Hossam El Shaer, Chairman of SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises and Madaar Developments, added:
“Egypt’s tourism sector is witnessing remarkable growth driven by global interest and strong investments. This partnership reflects our shared vision to elevate Egypt’s hospitality standards and supports the nation’s Vision 2030 goals.”
About SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises
Founded in 2002, SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises is one of Egypt’s top hospitality companies, operating 27 resorts and 7 Nile cruise ships. With over 9,000 rooms across destinations like Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Luxor, Aswan, Ain Sokhna, and Alexandria, SUNRISE serves more than 5 million guests annually, supported by a team of 10,000 hospitality professionals.
About Madaar Developments
Madaar Developments is a prominent luxury real estate developer in Egypt, known for creating integrated destinations with world-class facilities. Its portfolio includes major projects such as Kinz in West Cairo, AZHA Ain Sokhna, and AZHA Ras El Hekma. With over 1,000 acres of land and 5,000+ residential units, Madaar has achieved more than EGP 40 billion in sales over the past decade.
