SUNRISE Chairman Hossam El Shaer Named Among Forbes Middle East's Top 100 Travel & Tourism Leaders for the Fourth Consecutive Year
Forbes Middle East has named Mr. Hossam El Shaer, Chairman of SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises, to its list of the Top 100 Travel & Tourism Leaders 2026. This is the fourth consecutive year he has received this recognition. The list honors the executives shaping the region's travel and tourism sector.
A Legacy Built Since 1971
The group's story began in 1971, when the El Shaer family founded Blue Sky. That business became the foundation of one of Egypt's most diversified tourism groups.
Today, the group is vertically integrated. It operates across hotels and resorts, Nile cruises, international travel, transportation, real estate, engineering and construction, facility management and security, and retail, including malls, commercial hubs, entertainment venues, and restaurants.
Mr. El Shaer built on that legacy to create SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises, which now operates across 15 destinations in Egypt, Greece, Tanzania, and Morocco. Its portfolio includes 41 hotels and resorts and 7 Nile cruises.
Growth by Design
Under Mr. El Shaer's leadership, SUNRISE has grown quickly and deliberately. The group added 4,000 keys in a single year and now has more than 13,000 rooms, with a target of 20,000 rooms by 2030.
Strategic Partnerships for the Next Phase
One initiative anchors the group's next phase of growth:
- - Joint venture with Minor Hotels: targets 50 properties across Egypt over the next ten years.
Expanding Through Madaar
Beyond hospitality, the group is growing through Madaar, its real estate arm. Madaar is developing seven projects on a 1,120-acre land bank, and four of them launched this year. These projects extend the group's footprint into large-scale mixed-use development.
Leadership Across the Industry
Mr. El Shaer's influence extends well beyond the SUNRISE portfolio:
- - He serves as Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation.
- - He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
- - He has twice served as Chairman of the Egyptian Travel Agents Association.
Few leaders in Egyptian tourism have held both operating and industry leadership roles at this level.
A Recognition Shared
Mr. El Shaer has now been recognized by Forbes Middle East for four consecutive years. The recognition reflects both his individual leadership and the continued growth of SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises across the region.
On behalf of the entire SUNRISE family, we congratulate Mr. El Shaer on this well-deserved recognition.
