Founder
Mr. Enan Galaly, internationally recognized as a leading and inspiring entrepreneur, has taken the hospitality industry by storm.
Founder of Helnan Hotels and Chairman of the “Advisory Council of the International Association of University Presidents,” he has been awarded more than an honorary doctorate in recognition and honor of his status from many countries, such as the United States of America and Japan, in the presence of thousands to listen to his words and speeches.
The ambassador of Denmark for the historical relations to the Middle East holds the title of 1st Degree Knight of Dannebrog from Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, in addition to multiple prestigious posts.
Born in Heliopolis—Cairo to an academic family, as a youngster, Enan was a Scout leader and an active member in many social and sports activities, disregarding the educational studies that affected his performance in school, making him the last in the classroom for years. He felt like a stranger among his punctual intellectual family members and friends; consequently, he decided to be a stranger away from home. Until today, after all these years, he is still feeling like a stranger. Enan left his homeland, Egypt, before completing high school, without financial resources, but only with ten pounds in his pocket, as well as in the other pocket he had the values and traditions that have been cultivated deep in his conscience that grew more and more lately.
In Vienna, he was selling newspapers on the streets, had different temporary jobs, and for many times stayed at a homeless institution in the center of Vienna. After that, he moved further north to Denmark and worked there as a dishwasher without pay but in return for a meal, then he worked voluntarily at various jobs, even in his free time, in hotels and restaurants to expand his experience and gain respect. After several years in Denmark, he became a Danish citizen and was inaugurated into the hospitality industry. He occupied different positions until he became “Assistant General Manager.”
Galaly founded HELNAN, a name that belongs to his roots, which still blossom in his heart—the letters HEL stand for Heliopolis, where he was born and keeps his childhood memories, while the second half NAN is derived from the last letters of his name. The first hotel owned by Galaly in Denmark is the historical Phoenix Hotel-Aalborg that was built in the 18th century. The hotel is named after the Arabian Phoenix, a mythical bird in the old Phoenician story that was burnt in the sun temple of Heliopolis to leave Egypt and rose up again in Europe. This story resembled what Enan had been through in Egypt until he left the country to start his journey of future life in the Western world.
Helnan, which owns and operates first-class hotels in several countries, is famous for supporting several social, economic, historical, and developing affairs in addition to sustaining sports and arts. Galaly’s achievements have been decorated by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who signed an official royal decree to bestow on Enan Galaly one of the highest titles in Denmark: “1st Degree Knight of Dannebrog.” This honor is considered an appreciation for his role and exerted efforts locally and globally.
