She was built by the British ship building firm Samuda Brothers in 1863 to the order of Egyptian Khedive Ismail Pasha and was handed over to its crew two years later.

El Mahrousa underwent a number of important alterations during its years of service, including the replacement of her paddle wheel engines by turbine driven propellers in 1905; the installation of a wireless telegraph in 1912 and a diesel-fueled system in 1919; as well as multiple-feet lengthenings throughout that period.

[2] After the 1952 abdication of King Farouk and his arrival in Europe he sent back the yacht to Egypt with all the crew and the equipment; she was taken over by the Egyptian government for use as a naval training ship, and her name was changed to El Horreya.

She spent most of her career in the eastern Mediterranean, but did participate in the International Naval Review held to commemorate the bicentennial of the United States of America.

Other notable figures who boarded the ship were Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, King Ibn Saud, Josip Broz Tito, and Menachem Begin.