AccorHotels, the world’s leading hotel operator, announced the signing of a hotel management agreement (HMA) between Arabia Group, developers in high quality mixed-use residential, retail, and commercial developments in Egypt and United Arab Emirates in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Slated to open by 2022, the addition of Fairmont Pyramids Hotel & Residences will increase AccorHotels’ operational and development pipeline to 32 hotels in Egypt.
Sami Nasser, Chief Operating Officer, Luxury Brands, Middle East, AccorHotels said: “We are excited to announce the addition of Fairmont Pyramids Hotels & Residences to our Egypt luxury portfolio.” He added, “This announcement further underscores the Group’s commitment to the destination and its envisioned potential, evident with our existing portfolio of luxury properties including seven operational hotels under the Fairmont, Sofitel and Sofitel Legend brands and a robust pipeline to open within the next five years.”
“We look forward to playing an integral role in re-energizing the country’s tourism infrastructure,” said Frank Naboulsi, Regional Vice President and General Manager, Fairmont Nile City. “The destination has demonstrated positive growth over the past few years which has also increased the appeal of international hospitality brands. Our valued partnership with Arabia Group also highlights our intention to accelerate expansion and to create employment opportunities for the local market.”
Fairmont Pyramids Hotels & Residences will feature 250 rooms and 200 branded residences. Designed in accordance to a blend of Pharaonic and modern design aesthetics, the hotel is located just four kilometers from the Great Pyramids with unobstructed views of the wonders of the World as well as direct access to the new pyramids entrance. The hotel is only three minutes away from the new Egyptian grand museum with easy access to the new ring road connecting to the new capital city, and is also a short 15-minute drive from the new Sphinx International Airport.
Spanning 20 floors, the hotel will form the highest tower in 6th of October, a city in the Giza Governorate, and will constitute the majority of the hospitality component within the upcoming Madinat A’Shamss development – a mixed-use project spanning over 56 hectares within close proximity to the Pyramids of Giza.
Madinat A’Shamss will also include the largest retail area in Egypt exceeding 570,000 sqm between a high end mall, an international medical center, an international university and school all connected to Sahet A’Shamss, a sun-like mega plaza (the largest solar paved piazza in Middle East and Africa). The mega plaza will also be flanked by branded retail and office towers, apartments, exclusive villas, and a unique Egyptian cultural theme park with a range of facilities.
Tarek Shoukry, Chairman, Arabia Group, commented: “Madinat A’Shamss is a unique concept that will redefine the new cities’ living experience locally and regionally, as it blends modernity, authenticity, and luxury hospitality standards in a well-designed urban master plan.” He further added, “We are pleased to be partnering with AccorHotels and to have selected the Fairmont brand for our first hotel tower in this prestigious development, and are keen to bring leading hospitality brands to create a prime destination for both residents and international visitors to Egypt.”
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, said: “This collaboration will contribute positively to developing a prime tourism destination. Madinat A’Shamss is not another real estate project, it is Egypt’s new touristic capital and beyond doubt, it will become a new landmark for Egypt in the future.”
AccorHotels currently operates 20 hotels in Egypt with 12 hotels in the pipeline, encompassing a combined total of 10,800 rooms and residences across luxury, upscale, midscale, and economy segments. Notable examples include the Sofitel Cairo El Gezirah and Fairmont Nile City, both located in the heart of the city, and Novotel Marsa Alam and ibis Styles Dahab, overlooking the Red Sea. Upcoming projects include the ambitious Sharm El Sheikh multi-hotel development, featuring Raffles, Fairmont, and Swissôtel, highlighted by the largest Crystal Lagoon in the world.