SET ON ONE of the last prime pieces of real estate left for development in Hurghada proper, the Steigenberger Al-Dau Beach Hotel has everything going for it: panoramic views, a golf course, a meandering swimming pool and a grand staircase that are all the pinnacle of beachy elegance. There is still one glitch, however: The hotel isn’t finished yet.

The last decade has done a number on Hurghada. A massive influx of package tourists has encouraged developers to build crazily, and, as a result, property in and around the city is scarce.

Set next to the Hilton and a short three kilometer ride from the airport, the Steigenberger Al-Dau seems to have lucked out with its great location, but it was really foresight on the part of Steigenberger, which snatched up the property more than four years ago and has been sitting on it ever since, slowly building and planning. This year, an executive order came from headquarters in Germany to wrap up the work and open for good.

Spokespeople for the new resort, brought to you by the same group that prettied up another piece of prime land in El-Gouna for the Steigenberger Golf Resort – El-Gouna, aren’t too worried about meeting their November opening date. Well, okay, they might be a little worried: 500 workers are now on the property day and night, trying to finish up — fast.

“We have already begun taking reservations,” says Director of Sales and Marketing Karim Boushra, who showed me around the beautiful, albeit still sandy resort.

Catering towards a mostly German and upmarket European crowd (think the first members of the European Union), Al-Dau is trying to stand apart from its neighbors by offering something a little bit plusher than the standard trough-like buffets and bad beachwear that are Hurghada’s modus operandi. With its wide range of amenities and swanky atmosphere, Steigenberger Al-Dau is taking the Red Sea beach resort experience further, trying its best to up the luxury ante and provide more services overall for guests.

The pride and joy of this resort, and the view from most of its windows and balconies, is the nine-hole, par-three golf course which at the moment remains one giant sand trap, but promises to be a great place for golf fanatics to work on their discipline, and inexperienced clods like me to putz around. Another high point is the swimming pool (all 5,000 square meters of it), which snakes around the property and will make you feel as though you’re in a tropical lagoon — without the need for malaria meds.

A portion of the swimming pool is actually a “lazy river,” with water being pumped and channeled to make a current that you can float down er lazily.

As for a theme, Al-Dau’s creators want you to think Swahili. (A dau, more commonly spelled dhow, is a kind of romantic-looking wooden sailboat that plied the trade routes between Kenya, India and the Gulf.) Many of the bars and amenities in the resort have Swahili names. I like the Shangalulu Pub (I’m told Shangalulu means ‘millipede’) on the lower level of the building, which has a bar made out of the stern of a boat, and the Tanga Beach Restaurant, which, incidentally, means ‘sail’ in Swahili and ‘string bikini’ in German.

In reality, the unfinished creation has a décor that’s part African, part Taj Mahal, and a little bit Swiss Chalet. Identity issues aside, once it’s open, Al-Dau will be a looker. Indian-style scalloped archways, dark stained-wood inlays and carvings and a grand, curving staircase will Disney-fy your hedonistic beach experience.

As I entered the hotel, it became apparent that the reception area is really the most impressive part of the structure. The massive hall, its ceiling four floors above, dominates the building. There are fountains in the center of the room and a dark wood reception desk on one side and a matching bar on the other (just make sure you go to the one on the right first). The grand staircase at the end of the room faces the golf course and beach and leads down to the hotel’s main dining room and yet another bar.

While I can not attest to the quality of the food (the restaurants weren’t open yet when I visited), one obvious perk while dining at Al-Dau will be that each bar and restaurant has outdoor as well as indoor seating.

Of Al-Dau 382 available units, only 30 are standard (read: cheaper) rooms. The remaining units are more expensive: 267 deluxe rooms with a view, 68 family rooms, six junior suites, two grand suites and one presidential suite — complete with its own swimming pool. Builders are also busy working on individual two-story, cabin-style structures that are located on the periphery of the golf course and will be able to accommodate large families or groups of friends.

The conference and business center also looks to be a highlight. Boushra walked me through room upon room of what will be meeting facilities, internet stations and presentation areas — most with sea views and state-of-the-art technology.

The resort has its own thalasso center, where couples can get massages side by side and then take a dip in a saltwater pool. The spa uses products from the French brand Algotherm, and if you really love how the salt scrub works, you can buy it in the shop on your way out. You will also be able to take a Turkish bath, get your hair done at the salon and work out in the exercise center.

Judging by their progress and the other Steigenberger properties around Egypt and Europe, Al-Dau should be a massive success. And by the time you read this, it will hopefully smell of the sea and not of paint thinner.  et

Steigenberger Al-Dau Beach Hotel Hurghada Tel: +2 (065) 346-5401 Fax: +2 (065) 346-5400 steigenberger@steigenbergeraldau.com www.steigenberger.com