What’s in a name?
Let’s just say he was probably misquoted: Kamel Abu Ali says he’s prepping ‘Disneyland Hurghada’. Prominent businessman and chairman of the Red Sea Investors Association Kamel Abu Ali says he is finalizing the plans to build a resort in Hurghada at a cost of USD 1.5 bn with the participation of multiple investors, Al Mal reported on Wednesday. Abu Ali is the owner of the Albatros Hotel chain, with locations primarily in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. What is striking about the story is that Abu Ali is quoted by Al Mal as saying the resort will go by the name of Disneyland Hurghada, at which point the article’s author may have attempted to clarify by asking: “You mean, it will be like Disneyland? Or are you actually calling it Disneyland?” The latter question may have been appropriate, as he already owns “Sea World” Hurghada, minus of course the orcas and naming rights. On a side note, Abu Ali is also a film producer, whose works include the film Assal Eswed, a cause of endless comparisons and torment—largely by taxi, Uber and Careem drivers but also by dumb family members—to the particular individual writing this summary.