Who established the King David Hotel?

Ezra Mosseri, an Egyptian Jewish banker, founded the hotel alongside partners and the National Bank of Egypt.

What stone was used in the hotel construction?

Builders constructed the hotel using locally quarried pink limestone.

Which royal figures and heads of state stayed at the property in exile?

Exiled leaders who resided at the hotel include King Alfonso of Spain, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and King George of Greece.

What landmarks are visible from the hotel?

The hotel overlooks the Old City and Mount Zion.

Which hospitality company owns the property?

The Dan Hotels group owns and manages the property.

Which film recorded scenes inside the hotel?

Production crews filmed interior and exterior scenes for the motion picture Exodus on the terrace and in the main lobby.

East Jerusalem · Palestine

King David Hotel: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Long-term residents working near the compound navigate intense perimeter security and routine road closures whenever foreign delegations arrive.

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Now in the cityKing David Hotel+22°CPartly cloudyupdated 03:03 PM Around here43

Exchange rateE£55.42per 1 $EGP — the local currencyas of Nov 2, 2026

About the place

Quarried pink limestone defines the exterior of this landmark hotel, which overlooks the Old City and Mount Zion.

Egyptian banker Ezra Mosseri founded the property alongside investors from Cairo and the National Bank of Egypt. Builders constructed the landmark using locally quarried pink limestone on Julian Way, which later became King David Street. The site sits directly opposite Mount Zion and the historic Old City walls. During the British Mandate period, British military and civil administration housed headquarters in the southern wing.

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The southwestern corner suffered extensive destruction when the militant group Irgun detonated explosives inside the building. Following the end of the British Mandate, the structure served as a Jewish stronghold and later overlooked the armistice line across partitioned territory. The Dan Hotels chain eventually purchased the site, adding upper floors after the Six-Day War and hosting film crews for the movie Exodus.

Exiled monarchs including Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and King Alfonso of Spain lived on the grounds during international conflicts. Visiting heads of state, American presidents, and British prime ministers routinely reserve entire wings for diplomatic summits. Long-term staff and visiting delegations operate under permanent hospitality protocols and strict perimeter monitoring designed for international state receptions.

Associations

Diplomatic delegationsForeign leaders and state delegations regularly occupy entire wings for summits.
Pink limestone facadeQuarried local stone forms the exterior walls facing the Old City ridge.
High-security perimeterDiplomatic movements cause regular road closures and strict gate screenings.
Exile sanctuaryDisplaced European and African monarchs maintained residences here during wars.
Exodus film setLobby and terrace areas served as primary filming locations for the movie.

Facts

Ezra Mosseri and fellow Cairo financiers funded the original construction of the hotel.
The southern wing accommodated British administrative and military offices during the Mandate.
The Dan Hotels group acquired the property and added upper floors to the main building.
Exiled monarchs from Spain, Ethiopia, and Greece resided in the building during foreign occupations.
The hotel stands along King David Street with views overlooking Mount Zion and the Old City.

Updated September 21, 2026Source: Wikipedia

King David Hotel: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around43

Quarried pink limestone defines the exterior of this landmark hotel, which overlooks the Old City and Mount Zion.

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