Mandarin Oriental heads for Egypt for the first time

Mandarin Oriental has announced a management agreement to rebrand the historic Shepheard Hotel in Cairo. This will be the first hotel from the group in Egypt. The celebrated Shepheard Hotel first opened its doors in 1841 and remains a landmark in the city, respected by the local community and well known internationally.

A comprehensive renovation of the property is already underway and Paris-based interior designer, Sybille de Margerie, is tasked with preserving the heritage design while enhancing the facilities and services. Upon completion, currently anticipated for 2024, the hotel will re-open as Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo.

Situated on the eastern shore of the Nile river, in the heart of Downtown Cairo, the property will feature 188 rooms and 88 suites, many with balconies, providing excellent views over the city, the Nile and Gezira island.

Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo will feature five restaurants and bars, including a rooftop restaurant for al fresco dining, as well as an exclusive club lounge. The hotel will also offer expansive function spaces, including a rooftop ballroom, making this the ideal destination for conferences and social gatherings of all sizes.

The project developer is Al Sharif for Tourism & Hotels, an Egyptian closed joint stock company that is a subsidiary of Al Sharif Group Holding, the Saudi holding group based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The organisation won the concession to redevelop the site from the Egyptian General Company for Tourism & Hotels in 2020.

James Riley, group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental, said: “We are delighted to extend Mandarin Oriental’s renowned levels of hospitality into Egypt and to work with 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.”