Egyptian hotel mogul and knight of Dannebrog passes away

Enan Raouf El-Galaly, the owner of the Helnan hotel chain, which includes 10 hotels in cities like Aalborg and Aarhus, has died at the age of 77. Originating from Cairo, he moved to Denmark at the age of 20 and worked his way up from a dishwasher at the Hotel Hvide Hus in Aalborg to the management team within 10 years. He later acquired his own hotels, including properties in Denmark, Egypt, and Morocco, consolidating them under the Helnan chain. The financial crisis forced him to sell off parts of his portfolio to ensure the chain’s survival. Raouf El-Galaly was appointed a Knight of the Order of Dannebrog in 2004 and was friends with Prince Henrik. A well-traveled member of numerous international organizations and an honorary doctor at several universities, he frequently visited Denmark, where he passed away during a recent trip. Raouf El-Galaly will be buried in Egypt, according to the Helnan chain.