Cairo to turn 15th century sultan's caravansary into heritage hotel to boost tourism
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Oct. 24 that it will convert the 15th century Wakala al-Sultan Qaytbay into a heritage hotel after its restoration.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Oct. 24 that it will convert the 15th century Wakala (caravansary or hostel for merchants) of Al-Sultan Qaytbay, which was established during the Mamluk era in 1481, into a heritage hotel after being restored and rehabilitated.
The project, which is being implemented by the Antiquities Ministry's General Administration of Historic Cairo, was established in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, which funded the project at a total cost of 100 million Egyptian pounds ($6.4 million), according to a press statement by Mahmoud Abdel Baset, director general of the Historic Cairo Development Project.
The Wakala al-Sultan Qaytbay is due to open next year.
The structure was built in 1481 by Sultan Abu Al-Nasr Al-Ashraf Qaytbay, a Burji Mamluk sultan of Egypt who ruled between 1468 and 1496. He was famous for being a great patron of architecture and art.
