Nobu Hospitality and Robert De Niro Are Expanding Into Egypt With Three Luxury Destinations
The three-site expansion covers New Cairo, the Mediterranean coast at Ras El Hekma, and New Zayed in West Cairo.
Summary
Details a three-site expansion in Egypt featuring luxury hotels, branded residences and signature dining destinations in partnership with developer SODIC
Highlights the strategic rollout in New Cairo, the Mediterranean North Coast and West Cairo to mark a major evolution for the brand
Features insights from cofounders Robert De Niro and Meir Teper on the hospitality group's transition toward integrated neighborhood developments
Nobu Hospitality cofounders Robert De Niro and Meir Teper alongside CEO Trevor Horwell have unveiled a massive multi-site expansion into Egypt. Developed in collaboration with leading Egyptian real estate firm SODIC, the ambitious project introduces three distinct destinations integrating hospitality, residential living and dining across the country’s most sought-after locations. The bold move capitalizes on significant regional infrastructure improvements and foreign investment from Emirati and Qatari groups to position the North African nation as a premier year-round luxury hub for international travelers.
The hospitality empire traces its origins to the late 1980s when De Niro lived across the street from chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Los Angeles restaurant. Decades after their first New York collaboration opened in 1994, the brand now commands nearly 60 global dining spaces and a rapidly growing portfolio of premium accommodations. The current evolution into fully integrated neighborhoods marks a major milestone for the group. De Niro noted that the brand earned the right to participate in large-scale residential projects after years of developers using the famous restaurant name to add instant cachet to external buildings.
In New Cairo, a signature restaurant recently debuted in the Eastown District as a precursor to a dedicated hotel scheduled to open in 2027. On the Mediterranean coast, the group is anchoring the 440-acre OGAMI development in Ras El Hekma. This beachfront location already features a seasonal dining space and will soon expand to include a hotel and branded residences. Designed by Rockwell Group, the coastal property blends Japanese minimalism with Mediterranean warmth to reflect the brand’s Kokoro philosophy of heartfelt service. The sprawling master plan recently earned top honors at the 2025 Architecture Leaders Awards.
A third complex is planned for New Zayed in West Cairo. The upcoming development will offer luxury accommodations and private homes situated just 20 minutes from the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. Teper explained that the shift toward complete lifestyle ecosystems occurred organically as successful individual hotel launches prompted requests for branded residential towers. The exclusive partnership with local experts ensures the new properties respect existing Egyptian customs while introducing a proven global standard of elevated coastal living to a rapidly transforming market.
