Investment Minister Ashraf Salman took part Thursday in a ceremony marking the handover of the historic Nile Hilton to the Nile Ritz-Carlton.

Since 1959, the hotel, located across Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, has been operating as a Nile Hilton.

The 280-room hotel would start operating as Nile Ritz in September.

Under an agreement, the luxury hotel would be administered by the Ritz-Carlton for 20 years after extensive renovation.

The operations at the hotel were managed by Hilton for about 50 years since it was inaugurated by late president Gamal Abdel Naser.

The renewal project included building an underground garage with spaces for 280 cars and maintenance of 13 storeys.

The ceremony was also attended by the ministers of planning, urban planning, tourism, and justice and Cairo governor.