Minor Hotels Expands Footprint in Egypt with SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises Joint Venture

Minor Hotels, a global leader in the hospitality industry across hotels, resorts and branded residences in 59 countries, has signed an agreement with SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises to form a new joint venture company. The signing ceremony took place at the office of H.E. Prime Minister of Egypt Mostafa Madbouly in the attendance of H.E. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi; underscoring the importance of this partnership for the country’s growing tourism sector.

The joint venture sets an ambitious target of opening and managing up to 50 hotels over the next decade. Development will span both key urban centres and leisure destinations, including West Cairo, Azha Ras El Hekma on the North Coast and Azha Ain Al Sokhna. As part of the agreement, Minor Hotels will commence management of seven projects, covering operational hotels, brownfield conversions and greenfield developments. A highlight of the pipeline will be the introduction of Minor Hotels’ flagship luxury brand, Anantara Hotels & Resorts in locations across the country.  

The partnership will also extend Minor Hotels’ hospitality expertise to Nile cruise operations across Aswan and Luxor, building on the success of Minor Hotels’ portfolio of Asia based river cruises including Mekong Kingdom and Loy Pela, reinforcing Egypt’s appeal as one of the world’s most iconic travel destinations.

William E. Heinecke, Chairman & Founder of Minor International parent company of Minor Hotels commented, “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. 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.”

Mr. Hossam El Shaer, Chairman of SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises and Madaar Developments, noted “Egypt’s tourism sector is experiencing remarkable growth, fueled by increased investment and growing global interest. We are proud to be part of a collaboration that reflects our shared vision to elevate the country’s hotel and tourism industry. Since founding SUNRISE in 2002 we’ve focused on creating integrated, sustainable destinations that meet the highest international standards. This Partnership signals strong global confidence in Egypt’s economy and directly supports the goals of Egypt’s Vision 2030.”

The new entity establishes a long-term strategic partnership to introduce and expand Minor Hotels’ world-class brands across Egypt’s dynamic and fast-growing tourism sector.

Founded in 2002, SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises is one of Egypt’s leading hospitality groups, operating 27 resorts and 7 Nile cruise ships. With over 9,000 rooms and properties across key Egyptian destinations—including Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Luxor, Aswan, Ain Sokhna, and Alexandria—as well as a growing international presence in Greece, Zanzibar, and Morocco, SUNRISE welcomes over 5 million guests annually. The group is supported by a dedicated team of 10,000 hoteliers.

Madaar Developments is a premier luxury real estate developer in Egypt, known for delivering fully integrated destinations with world-class facilities. Its diverse portfolio includes major projects such as Kinz in the west of Cairo, AZHA Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea, and AZHA Ras El Hekma on Egypt’s North Coast. With a land bank spanning over 1,000 acres and more than 5,000 units, these developments have generated sales exceeding EGP 40 billion over the past 10 years.