Israeli Officials Postpone Sothebys Auction
Sotheby’s in London’s sale of more than 200 items postponed.
By Terry Christodoulou
Tue, Oct 27, 2020 5:00am
2 min
2 min
A controversial auction held by Sotheby’s London was set to take place on Tuesday before being abruptly postponed at the last minute.
Set to cross the auction block were artefacts from Jerusalem’s Museum for Islamic Art. Items of note included a helmet that may have belonged to an Ottoman sultan, a page from nearly 1000-year-old Qur’an and a 13th century Mamluk glass bowl.
Facing financial hardship, the museum had planned to sell more than 200 items, amounting to a possible $13.7 million before the advent of COVID-19, and with the pandemic sweeping through – the auction became essential to avoid closing its doors for good.
However, Israeli officials and government agencies alongside the president of Israel Reuven Rivlin weighed in hoping to stop the sale, with Rivlin stating the collection had a “greater worth and significance than their monetary value.”
It seemed to work, as on Monday night the museum announced in a statement from its primary donor that the sale would be postponed, reportedly until some time in November.
“The foundation’s management hopes that the postponement will make it possible to reach agreements that will also be acceptable to the Culture Ministry in the coming weeks,” the Hermann de Stern Foundation said.
A Sotheby’s spokesperson mentioned that it had conducted multiple deaccessions whereby museums or art galleries sell items to raise funds and added that the guiding principle behind the selection from the Museum for Islamic Art was to ensure the integrity of its collection, which holds over a thousand items.
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A&K Sanctuary’s newest Nile vessel, Nile Seray, will launch in October 2026 as Egypt enters a new era of global tourism
By Jeni O'Dowd
Tue, Dec 9, 2025 2 min
2 min
A new luxury riverboat set to sail the Nile from late 2026 has opened for bookings, as Egypt experiences its biggest surge in international tourism in more than a decade following the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Nile Seray, the latest vessel from A&K Sanctuary, will launch in October and operate four-night voyages between Aswan and Luxor.
The boat will accommodate just 64 guests across 32 suites, placing it firmly at the premium end of the fast-expanding Nile cruising market.
The launch coincides with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in November 2025, a project more than 20 years in the making.
Located near the Giza pyramids, the museum spans more than 480,000 square metres and is now the largest archaeological museum in the world.
It houses more than 100,000 artefacts, including, for the first time ever, the complete collection of King Tutankhamun’s treasures displayed together in one place.
The museum’s opening has been widely credited with transforming global interest in Egypt, driving record visitor numbers and sparking a wave of new hotel openings, aviation capacity and high-end travel investment across the country.
Interior renderings released this week show Nile Seray adopting a contemporary design approach that blends modern lines with heritage references.
The 32 suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Nile, with natural materials and colour palettes drawing from Egypt’s desert landscape.
Two onboard restaurants open onto deck spaces, while the top deck includes a swimming pool and shaded daybeds designed for daytime cruising and sunset views.
Each voyage will include guided access to key archaeological sites on the West Bank, including the tombs of Seti I and Ramses VI, along with private openings of the tombs of King Tutankhamun and Amenhotep III. Excursions are led by specialist Egyptologists, with daily touring built into the itinerary.
With only 64 guests onboard, the vessel is aimed at travellers seeking a more intimate alternative to the larger Nile cruise ships that dominate the route during peak season.
Luxury hotel availability across Egypt remains tight during busy periods, particularly following the museum’s opening.
Nile Seray becomes the fifth vessel in A&K Sanctuary’s Nile fleet, joining the Nile Adventurer, Sun Boat III, Sun Boat IV and Zein Nile Chateau. A sister ship is also scheduled for launch in 2028.
Voyages include visits to the temples of Luxor, Karnak and Aswan, felucca sailing around Elephantine Island, Egyptian cooking demonstrations and traditional entertainment. All meals, excursions and onboard activities are included.
Each sailing will also contribute to A&K Philanthropy programs in Egypt, including long-running partnerships in Luxor and Aswan focused on youth education and cardiac care.
