Old Sheraton in Hurghada: the history of the town's first hotel
The old Sheraton is a circular five-storey building standing at the water's edge in Sakkala, which gave its name to Sheraton Road. Built by the Egyptian state and opened in 1963, it is regarded as Hurghada's first hotel and launched the tourist development of the coast. It has been closed since 1997 and is slowly decaying. It is not a site you visit: you look at it from the outside, from the small harbour to the south-east, to understand where the resort came from.
Highlights
The building seen from the sea
Its round silhouette, set against the desert hill, is clearly visible from the neighbouring small marina, which is still in use, and from the dive boats passing offshore. Photos are taken from the outside.
A chequered history
According to Wikivoyage, the hotel closed in June 1967 at the start of the Six-Day War, reopened after the 1978 Camp David Accords, was taken over by Saudi investors in 1992 and closed for good in 1997. We found no official source detailing these steps: take them as a guide.
Practical info
Tips
- The site is abandoned: do not enter the building or cross the fences, access is not allowed and the risk of collapse is real. It can be seen from the street and from the harbour; no tour is organised. Also look for the two metal lighthouses in the south of the bay, about 55 and 76 m according to Wikivoyage. The district is described on our page on Sakkala.
How to get there
Sakkala, at the water's edge, near the small marina Taxi: ask for "Old Sheraton" or the Sakkala marina; agree the price before getting in or use Uber On foot from Hurghada marina: a few minutes along the coast
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
Comments
No comments yet.