Egypt's tourism sector is poised for a significant evolution as Minor Hotels and SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises announced a landmark joint venture that will reshape the country's luxury and lifestyle hotel landscape. The agreement, signed in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi, reflects the strong international confidence in Egypt's tourism growth and underscores the government's commitment to Vision 2030.
The new joint venture has ambitious plans to open and manage up to 50 hotels over the next decade, covering both leisure and urban destinations such as West Cairo, Azha Ras El Hekma on the North Coast and Azha Ain Al Sokhna. Under the agreement, Minor Hotels will take over the management of seven projects, ranging from existing hotels to new developments and refurbishments. The project will mark the debut of Anantara Hotels & Resorts, Minor's flagship luxury brand, in key Egyptian destinations.
The announcement comes on the heels of Minor Hotels' expansion into Soma Bay in early 2025, when the group partnered with Soma Bay Hotel Company SAE to open an Anantara resort on the Red Sea, as reported in a recent announcement on TravelPRNews.com. The upcoming Anantara Soma Bay Resort will be a 2,500-acre vacation destination south of Hurghada, an area known for its diving, windsurfing and sailing, as well as one of the region's largest natural spas and thalassotherapy centers. Designed to combine global luxury with local flavor, the project underscores Minor Hotels' strategy to position Egypt's Red Sea coast as a world-class destination for wellness, sustainability and exciting travel experiences.
By linking the Soma Bay project with the recently announced SUNRISE partnership, Minor Hotels is signaling a long-term commitment to Egypt as a strategic growth market. Together, these ventures represent a unified vision: combining Minor's international reach and hospitality expertise with the deep market knowledge of local partners to deliver exceptional luxury and lifestyle offerings across the country.
In addition to land-based resorts, the new joint venture with SUNRISE will also expand Minor Hotels' cruise experience. Building on the success of river cruises in Asia, such as the Mekong Kingdom and Loy Pela, Minor will expand its operations to include Nile cruises between Aswan and Luxor, further diversifying Egypt's offerings for high-end travelers.
At the signing of the agreement, William E. Heinecke, Chairman and Founder of Minor International, called the venture a milestone that combines global and local strengths to unlock Egypt's vast tourism potential. Hossam El-Shaer, Chairman of SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises and Madaar Developments, emphasized that the partnership reflects the rapid growth of the sector and the strong global confidence in Egypt's economy, directly advancing Egypt's Vision 2030 for sustainable development.
With SUNRISE's existing portfolio of 27 resorts and 7 Nile cruise ships in Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Alexandria, and Minor Hotels' global presence in 59 countries, the new organization makes Egypt a growing luxury tourism destination. Together with the Soma Bay project, these initiatives are laying the roadmap for the country's future as a world-class destination that seamlessly blends culture, luxury, sustainability and innovation.
