The Mena House Oberoi Cairo

History

The Mena House Oberoi is set in 40 acres of jasmine-scented gardens with the Pyramids towering above. It was originally a royal lodge used by Khedive Ismail, the King of Egypt, as a house for himself and his guests while on hunting trips in the desert or during visits to the Pyramids of Giza. With the opening of the Suez Canal, he enlarged the guesthouse to receive international and royal guests visiting the Pyramids. Empress Eugenie was one of them as was Albert, Prince of Wales.

In the 1880s, the guesthouse was bought by Fredrick Head who named it "Mena House" after the first of the 76 kings on the famous "Tablet of Abydos". It was once again sold to an English couple, who turned it into a luxurious hotel. Although the fittings, architecture and decorations remained oriental in style, some English touches began to appear. At a time when balconies were unknown in hotels, the owners decided that every room should have an open balcony overlooking the Pyramids.

In the 1970s The Oberoi Group took over the management of The Mena House, adding it to their worldwide chain. The hotel was meticulously renovated and expansions incorporated. Under the Oberoi management, the hotel matched the highest standards of international hoteldom and became a member of "The Leading Hotels of the World".

One of the joys of staying at The Mena House Oberoi is that so many of Egypt's magnificent treasures are just a stone's throw away. The Sphinx is literally on the other side of the golf course, and the site of the step Pyramid of Zoser and the legendary Tomb of Ti, only a little further away.

Famous royal personalities and notable politicians who stayed at The Mena House Oberoi include Sir Winston Churchill, General Montgomery (Suites 623 & 706 are named after them), President Roosevelt, the Agha Khan and his Begum, King Mohammed, King Umberto, King Gustav (Suite 1014 is named after him), Presidents Nixon and Carter, General Moshe Dayan, Dr. Henry Kissinger and King Juan Carlos.

The Mena House Oberoi Hotel and Casino has also played host to some of the most famous cinema stars including Charlie Chaplin, Cecil B. DeMille, Robert Taylor, Omar Sharif, Barbara Hutton, Mia Farrow, David Niven, Peter Ustinov and the cast of Agatha Christie's "Death on the Nile".

The Mena House Oberoi was witness to one of the pivotal events in the history of Egypt. All peace negotiations after the 1973 Ramadan War between Egypt and Israel were conducted at The Mena House Oberoi.