Like the Arabian accents on its walls, Cairo's Waldorf Astoria perfectly blends contemporary luxury with Egypt's ancient history.
The five-star hotel group launched its first African property in Heliopolis last summer, with the property officially opening its doors in February.
Situated next door to the Hilton's Cairo Heliopolis Hotel, the Waldorf is accessible via an opulent corridor separating their polar opposite interiors.
The National checks in to find out just how luxurious Waldorf Astoria's first hotel on the African continent really is.
The welcome
Upon landing at Cairo International Airport after a four-hour flight from Dubai, I'm whisked away in a private transfer to the hotel, which is only a 10-minute drive away. Jessica, one of the hotel's concierge team, is quick to welcome me into the hotel's grand atrium, which is filled with palm trees, water fountains, chandeliers and lavish art deco interiors.
I'm immediately struck by the grandeur of the lobby, which is shaped like an eye and dominated by floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel's signature clock – said to represent the pupil of Pharaoh's eye – takes centre stage.
My luggage is swiftly taken away while I relax with jasmine tea and a cold towel before Jessica gives me a quick tour of the hotel's restaurants and bars and then shows me to my room.
The neighbourhood
Heliopolis is one of the oldest cities in Egypt and dates back to the ancient times. It has ancient buildings and ruined temples, as well as Andalusian-style architecture that creates a unique charm.
Attempts to modernise have led to American-style highways, which make it difficult to cross the road and explore the neighbourhood on foot, unless you believe you have nine lives as the locals seem to.
There's not a lot to do in the area, as we find out when we ask the concierge. However, she directs us to book a car to “take us wherever we please”, which include Egypt's main presidential palace, Downtown Cairo and the Grand Egyptian Museum, an hour's drive away. The newly opened museum has the original statue of Ramses II, as well as 87 original statues on the grand staircase and an exhibition on Tutankhamun. Khan El Khalili, Cairo's famous bazaar, and the old souq are well worth seeing, as well as the obvious Pyramids of Giza.
The main pull for the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis is simply its proximity to the airport, which is convenient for anyone who dislikes long and arduous transfers.
The scene
With 252 rooms and suites, a heated outdoor swimming pool and four food and beverage outlets, the hotel has plenty to keep guests occupied.
The hotel attracts a range of travellers, from families and couples to those visiting Cairo on a quick city break. Security is tight – requiring guests to have their cars and bags searched before entering the property – due to the hotel's popularity among VIPs and politicians, since it's so close to the airport.
The room
The hotel was designed by British company Adrian Barboza Design, with the interiors drawing inspiration from Cairo's history and culture – ancient Egyptian references coupled with a contemporary twist.
Gold accents and scallop wallpaper feature throughout, a nod to the Waldorf Astoria's famous Peacock Alley.
Rooms are decorated with a rich colour palette of greens, blues and neutral tones that evoke warmth and comfort. My fifth-floor room comes complete with a king-size bed that is firm and comfortable, as well as a fully stocked mini bar and a stunning view of Le Jardin pool area.
The bathroom is bright and airy, with a separate toilet and a large marble sink with lots of space for my cosmetics. A large bath tub and spacious walk-in rain shower feature impressive green scallop tiling and come complete with luxury toiletries provided by Sodashi – a luxury, vegan and cruelty-free brand from Australia.
The food
The hotel's food and beverage outlets offer lots of variety for all tastes and dietary requirements. Brasserie Ayda is the spacious all-day dining spot where we have breakfast each morning. It is buffet-style, with a live cooking station for traditional breads and a cold room filled with delicious cheese, meat, fish, fruit and mezze. Middle Eastern classics, hot dishes and healthy items are also on the offer. In the evening, the sharing menu experience is great, featuring a number of delicious dishes also available a la carte.
For mains, I try the Mediterranean Sea bass fillet (EGY1,950/Dh151)with tomato confit, lemon butter sauce and herb oil, as well as the Angus cote de boef with cafe de Paris butter, mashed potato, grilled vegetables and fried rice (EGY6,500/Dh504).
The standout dishes are the fried octopus and potato salad with Kalamata olives and capers (EGY680/Dh52) which is cooked beautifully and packed full of flavour, and the burrata with roasted baby beetroot (EGY460/Dh35) – a welcome change from the usual burrata and tomato combo – that has delicious Middle Eastern twist thanks to the addition of tangy flavour of pomegranate molasses.
Peacock Lounge serves teas, coffees and afternoon tea, while Bar Raa is the hotel's cosy speakeasy – a beautifully decorated jazz bar with a spacious outdoor terrace. Le Jardin Pool Bar is a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor restaurant serving light meals in a setting reminiscent of those found in the French Riviera.
The service
There's no denying that everyone here enjoys what they do, you can see it on the constant smiles on their faces. Everyone is always on hand to help, answer questions or simply have a chat.
I'm also really impressed by how attentive they all are – ensuring I'm fully settled in my room with fresh strawberries, providing sweet Arabic treats after a day of exploring and remembering my coffee order in the morning at breakfast.
The only downside in terms of service is that sometimes it can be slow at busier times.
Highs and lows
If you're looking for a gorgeous hotel to spend a few days relaxing in, then the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis ticks all the boxes. It has everything you need from delicious food to a stunning spa with a hammam, fully equipped gym and outdoor setting that will transport you straight to the Mediterranean.
One low is that the room lacks a healthy number of conveniently placed plug sockets and mirrors, which make things a tad difficult when getting ready for the day.
The insider tip
Stay in a room with a pool view as these get lots of natural light throughout the day.
While the spa is not open yet, I am given a sneak preview and when it does launch, I highly recommend winding down your day floating on cloud nine with a Balinese massage on the Lemi dream bed and its cosy water cushion.
The verdict
Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis is a great option for a short city break near the airport and just a 20-minute drive to Downtown Cairo, where you can discover the charm of the old city versus the new. The hotel offers excellent food, friendly service and cosy rooms that are ideal for relaxing in after a full day of discovering all that Cairo has to offer.
The bottom line
Rates start from Dh1,100 per night for a deluxe room based on two adults sharing, including taxes and fees; check-in at 3pm and check-out at noon; hilton.com
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel and reflects standards during this time. Services may change in the future.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
ENGLAND SQUAD
Team: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Sam Simmonds
Replacements 16 Jamie George, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 George Kruis, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Jack Nowell
Scoreline
Liverpool 4
Oxlade-Chamberlain 9', Firmino 59', Mane 61', Salah 68'
Manchester City 3
Sane 40', Bernardo Silva 84', Gundogan 90' 1
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The%20specs
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What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
SPEC%20SHEET
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Keita 5', Firmino 26'
Porto 0
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Results:
5pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600 metres
Winner: Dasan Da, Saeed Al Mazrooei (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Saabah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Mukaram, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: MH Tawag, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) | Dh70,000 | 1,400m
Winner: RB Inferno, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Juthoor, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
