Imperial Shams Abu Soma

We stayed at Imperial Shams Abu Soma in April 2026 as a large family group, with several families travelling together. Choosing the right hotel was genuinely difficult because we needed somewhere that would work for different ages, different interests and different expectations.

Imperial Shams Abu Soma ticked every important box.

The person who deserves our first and most personal thank you is Farag Osman, Assistant Front Office Manager. His professionalism, attentiveness and willingness to help made an enormous difference to our stay. He ensured that everything ran smoothly and made the entire holiday feel genuinely hassle-free.

His assistance never felt forced or transactional. It felt like real hospitality from someone who truly wanted his guests to have a wonderful experience.

The same positive attitude was visible throughout the hotel. The staff were hardworking, attentive and welcoming, and the entire resort was consistently clean and well maintained.

An exceptional Red Sea beach

The beach was one of the main reasons the hotel worked so well for our group, and it deserves a much more detailed explanation than simply calling it sandy.

Many Red Sea hotels have shallow beaches, but that does not automatically make them safe or comfortable for children. In many places, the seabed consists of a hard coral surface with small holes, niches and cavities. Black sea urchins often live inside these spaces, with their long spines protruding into the water.

The surface may look smooth and may even be partially covered with sand, but you still cannot allow a child to walk or swim there without constantly watching where they step. Anyone who has stayed at several Egyptian resorts will understand exactly what I mean.

At Imperial Shams Abu Soma, the seabed was genuinely sandy. It was soft, comfortable underfoot and free from the hidden coral cavities and sea urchins that make many Red Sea beaches stressful for families.

Our son was 13 and wanted the freedom to swim and explore. We wanted to let him enjoy himself without experiencing a minor heart attack every time he moved further into the water, worrying that he might suddenly disappear into the depths of the Red Sea or step onto a sea urchin.

The gently sloping seabed gave us exactly that balance. He could swim comfortably and confidently, while we could relax far more than we would have at a beach where the water becomes deep immediately or where the seabed is unsafe.

Our relatives were travelling with their four-year-old daughter, and the beach was equally suitable for her. She loved the water and happily swam there every day.

This type of beach is a genuine luxury on the Red Sea. It certainly exists elsewhere, but it is much more commonly associated with significantly more expensive hotels. Finding it at Imperial Shams was a major advantage.

The swimming pools were also a big success. They were clean, enjoyable and gave both the children and adults another excellent option during the day.

We were extremely fortunate with our ground-floor room. It was approximately 20 metres from the beach. Being able to wake up, make a cup of coffee and sit on our terrace with the sea only a few dozen metres away was a wonderful part of the experience.

Excellent food and an outstanding restaurant team

Food can be unpredictable in large all-inclusive resorts, but this was another area where Imperial Shams impressed us.

A very special thank you goes to Chef Ahmed Ebeid. Apart from being an excellent chef, he is an exceptionally kind, approachable and friendly person. Under his leadership, the restaurant operated like a very well coordinated machine.

Even during the busiest evening periods, the restaurant remained impressively clean and organised. Naturally, there were more guests during peak hours, but the team dealt with the numbers brilliantly. Food was constantly replenished, tables were handled efficiently, and we never felt that the restaurant had descended into chaos.

The food itself was consistently fresh, hot and enjoyable. What we particularly appreciated was the sensible balance: dishes were not excessively salty, heavily overcooked or drowned in seasoning. There were plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit, and everything felt properly handled and carefully prepared.

We have travelled around Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and much of Europe, so we are familiar with the realities of resort buffets. During our entire stay, not one member of our group experienced any stomach problems. That speaks volumes about the cleanliness and organisation of the kitchen.

The daytime all-inclusive food also deserves praise. The grill, freshly prepared snacks, chips and cold drinks were served continuously and everything tasted fresh.

Some hotels try to impress guests with a huge snack selection, but much of that food may sit around for long periods or travel backwards and forwards between the kitchen and serving areas. Imperial Shams appeared to focus more on preparing food fresh and keeping it moving.

We greatly preferred this approach. There may have been fewer unnecessary options, but what was served was fresh, hot, enjoyable and available to everyone.

Guests of Imperial Shams could also eat at the neighbouring Shams property. The menus were not completely different, but it provided some additional variety and the simple pleasure of having a meal in another setting.

A superb German-managed diving centre

Diving was one of the most important parts of our holiday, and the nearby Shams Diving Center exceeded our expectations.

The centre is located only a short walk from the main hotel building and is managed by German divers. For many experienced divers, this is a meaningful detail because it was reflected in the organisation, communication, equipment standards and the way the entire operation was run.

Everything was extremely professional and well coordinated. The equipment was in genuinely good condition and did not look heavily used or neglected.

Unfortunately, at some local Egyptian dive centres, rental equipment can be very tired: torn wetsuits, heavily worn BCDs and gear of uncertain age or condition. That was absolutely not the case here. The equipment was clean, serviceable and inspired confidence.

The boat trips were arranged exceptionally well, the prices were reasonable, and the staff coordinated everything smoothly. We completed approximately eight dives during our stay and were completely satisfied.

The atmosphere allowed us to concentrate on enjoying the diving rather than worrying about logistics or equipment. For guests who consider diving a central part of their Red Sea holiday, this centre is a major advantage.

Outstanding value for a mixed family group

Imperial Shams Abu Soma may not try to be the most extravagant luxury hotel on the Red Sea, but that is not the most important measure of a successful holiday.

What matters is the overall balance of what you receive for the money: a rare and genuinely sandy family-friendly beach, good swimming pools, a clean and well-maintained resort, caring staff, well-organised restaurants, fresh and enjoyable food, excellent daytime snacks, professional diving facilities and a relaxing atmosphere.

For us, the real achievement was that the hotel worked so well for a large group containing several families, teenagers, adults and a very young child. Everyone found something they enjoyed.

Our whole group would like to thank the entire team, with special appreciation for Farag Osman and Chef Ahmed Ebeid. You helped make our holiday easy, enjoyable and memorable.

Choosing the right hotel for so many people was not simple, but Imperial Shams Abu Soma proved to be exactly the right decision.

Perfect all 😍 animation team very activ and sympatic, make good fun, bar and kitchen too very sympatic. Room is clean.Sea nice.

Very wonderful hotel every things is amazing , Rooms , staff , services Every one is helpful , animation team have a great program, Hope to repeat it again ,and I will do it