Born in Egypt, entrepreneur and benefactor Enan Galaly left his native land at the age of 20, with just 10 English pounds in his pocket. He traveled to Vienna, Austria, where he sold newspapers and lived on the streets, and then made his way to Denmark, where he washed dishes to earn meals. From such inauspicious beginnings, Galaly went on to build an international hotel chain and become an influential world citizen.

While working at various jobs in hotels and restaurants, he enrolled in the hotel and restaurant school in Denmark in his free time and studied economics at a business school. After several years in Denmark, he became a Danish citizen. Still in his early 20s, Galaly joined the Hvide Hus Hotel in Aalborg as an assistant general manager; later, he was appointed general manager. He then attained a top position as managing director and board member of the Hvide Hus Hotel chain (eight hotels, a concert house and management corporation) by the time he was 30. (Recently, Galaly acquired Hvide Hus hotels in Koge and Aalborg.)

With a dream of becoming an international entrepreneur and offering a socially meaningful vision that would attract and inspire others, in 1982 Galaly formed Helnan, a multinational group of companies with headquarters in Denmark. (The name is derived from Heliopolis, the district where Galaly was born in Cairo, and from his first name.) Helnan, which owns, manages and develops five- and four-star hotels throughout the world, specializes in upgrading first-class hotels in Scandinavia, the United States, the Middle East and North Africa. Its slogan is “Symbol of Scandinavian Hospitality.”

Believing that it is critical to remember one’s roots, Galaly has found his way back to his native country through Helnan. He operates two hotels in Egypt with family ties and memories of places where he used to accompany his parents. He has also used Helnan Group to invest and develop many tourist sites in the country.

In Helnan, Galaly has built one of the most respected and prominent firms in the hospitality industry. The company, which has plans for new projects in Europe, North Africa, North America and the Middle East, is especially well known for supporting cultural affairs and educational training and programs.

A humble leader who likes to be called by his first name, Galaly has earned acclaim for his entrepreneurial success. He also has become an influential social activist through his company's many philanthropic efforts and his own personal initiatives. Among other roles, he is senior adviser for the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) and ambassador for the Heart Foundation in Denmark. He also is founder and honorary chairman of the Scandinavian Business Association in Egypt, and belongs to chambers of commerce in several countries.

Fluent in four languages (Arabic, Danish, English and German), Galaly has been selected as a member of several delegations headed by Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark, His Royal Highness the Prince Consort and the prime minister of Denmark representing the hotel and tourism sector.

For his outstanding achievements, Galaly has been invested as a "Knight of Dannebrog," one of the highest honors in Denmark. In 2001, he was awarded an honorary doctorate during the IAUP meeting in the Dominican Republic. He also has received numerous national and international honors.

Galaly further has earned an international reputation for his efforts to enhance intercultural understanding. He has heavily supported initiatives to foster and encourage greater dialogue between Arab and Western peoples, and between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Galaly and his wife, Margrete, have four children: Nour, Marena, Rauf and Alexandra.