Keeper of Silence: Mounir Neamatalla on Adrère Amellal's Next Chapter
In a rare interview, the founder of Egypt's most iconic eco-retreat reflects on his journey, his passions, and the power of presence.
Long before "sustainable luxury" became industry gospel, Mounir Neamatalla was building something elemental – by hand, by principle and by instinct: Adrère Amellal, the legendary eco-lodge sculpted from salt and earth on the edge of Egypt's Siwa Oasis.
In a rare and intimate conversation with @SceneTraveller's Managing Editor Layan Ismail—conducted in his home in Cairo—Neamatalla reflects on the singular vision that shaped his iconic eco-lodge.
A sanctuary that blends seamlessly into the sands surrounding Siwa's White Mountain. A place with no electricity, no Wi-Fi, and no need for either. Just candlelight, silence, and the architecture of raw, natural belonging. For over twenty years, Adrère Amellal has remained one of Egypt's best-kept open secrets, a retreat spoken of in hushed reverence by those who've experienced it.
Now, that ethos is heading to the sea.
Set to open in Summer 2028, The Ramla Nature Lodge at Ramla by Marakez will bring Adrère's philosophy to Egypt's North Coast; a continuation of a worldview that sees hospitality as stewardship.
If Neamatalla's desert dwelling gave us an appreciation for the power of place, presence and nature, this new still point by the sea may just give us grace.
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