Saudi construction company Al-Sharif Group Holding and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group have announced a management agreement to rebrand the historic Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo, Egypt. This is the second hotel in Egypt for Al-Sharif Group and will be Mandarin Oriental’s first.
In a signing ceremony at the Abdeen Palace, the agreement was announced and signed by Al-Sharif Group’s Chief Executive and President Nawaf bin Fayez Al-Sharif, and Paul Massot, chief development officer of Mandarin Oriental, under the auspices of Hisham Tawfik, minister of public business sector, Egypt. Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador in Cairo Osama Nugali and Dr. Khaled Al-Anani, minister of tourism and antiquities of Egypt, was also present.
The celebrated Shepheard’s Hotel first opened its doors in 1841 and remains a celebrated 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 building’s heritage design while enhancing the facilities and services. Upon completion, currently anticipated for 2024, the hotel will reopen as Mandarin Oriental Shepheard, Cairo.
The development and restoration of the hotel started in 2020 by Al-Sharif for Tourism and Hotels, an Egyptian closed joint stock company and a subsidiary of Al-Sharif Group Holding.
Al-Sharif Faiez Abdulhakim, chairman of Al-Sharif Group Holding, said: “For more than 40 years, Al-Sharif Group aspires to be an example in the market, delivering state-of-the-art works to its stakeholders and making a change in the region. Today, Al-Sharif Group ... is privileged to announce the signing of agreements with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, to preserve the history of the Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo.”
Al-Sharif, Al-Sharif Group’s president, said: “At Al-Sharif Group, we believe in the future of the tourism sector in the region. With a vision for the future, and pride in the preservation of the Arab legacy, in 2020, Al-Sharif Group Holding signed a 35-year agreement with the Egyptian General Company for Tourism and Hotels for the financing, development, restoration, and operation of the Shepheard’s Hotel. We are proud to take over the development project of this historic edifice on Egyptian soil.”
The hotel will feature five restaurants and bars, including a rooftop restaurant, as well as an exclusive club lounge. It will also offer expansive function spaces, including a rooftop ballroom, making it the ideal destination for conferences and social gatherings of all sizes. An all-encompassing spa will provide eight treatment suites and offer tailored experiences and signature treatments. Further wellness facilities include an indoor lap pool, a rooftop swimming pool, a beauty salon, a fitness center, and a kid’s club.
James Riley, group chief executive of Mandarin Oriental, said: “We are delighted to extend Mandarin Oriental’s renowned levels of hospitality to 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 and Africa, and we look forward to creating many unique experiences for our guests.”
Khaled A. Refaat, senior vice president for investments and business, Al-Sharif Group, added: “The restored Shepheard’s Hotel will be a momentous hotel preserving its historic features.”
