It was first played in 1921, and is the oldest professional competition in the Middle East.

[1] During the early 1950s, it was contested by many of the world's leading golfers, with winners including Bobby Locke and Bernard Hunt.

[2][3] In 2009, the tournament once again attracted an international field including eight time European Tour Order of Merit winner and captain of the 2010 European Ryder Cup team Colin Montgomerie.

[1] During the event, it was announced that a deal had been signed which would see the Egyptian Open become an event on the second tier Challenge Tour for a minimum of three years from 2010.

[4] The Challenge Tour last visited Egypt in 2004 for the Al Ahram-Jolie Ville Sharm El Sheikh Challenge.