The King David Hotel in Jerusalem opened in 1931, is owned by Dan Hotels and has 237 rooms. See its history, the 1946 bombing and its most notable guests.
The King David Hotel in Jerusalem opened in 1931, has about 237 rooms and has been owned and operated by Dan Hotels since 1958, according to Wikipedia. Founded by the banker Ezra Mosseri and designed by the Swiss architect Emil Vogt, it is known as Jerusalem's traditional venue for visiting heads of state and for the Irgun's 1946 bombing, which killed 91 people.
Last updated: October 30, 2026 (structured data corrected to match this page; facts unchanged).
What is the King David Hotel at a glance?
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | Officially inaugurated January 20, 1931 | Historic Hotels Then and Now |
| Founder | Ezra Mosseri, Egyptian Jewish banker | Wikipedia |
| Architect | Emil Vogt, with construction supervised by Benjamin Chaikin | Wikipedia |
| Rooms | 237, including 52 suites | Wikipedia, Leading Hotels of the World |
| Owner and operator | Dan Hotels, since 1958 | Wikipedia |
| Membership | The Leading Hotels of the World | Wikipedia |
Who built the King David Hotel?
The Mosseri family's Palestine Hotels company bought 4.5 acres on what is now King David Street in 1929, according to Wikipedia. Historic Hotels Then and Now says the building opened for a trial run with 200 rooms on December 21, 1930 and was inaugurated on January 20, 1931. The front is clad in locally quarried pink limestone, and the Swiss interior designer wanted the rooms to evoke the "ancient Semitic style," per the same source.
What happened in the 1946 bombing?
On July 22, 1946, the Irgun blew up the hotel's southwestern corner, which housed offices of the British Mandate authorities, killing 91 people of various nationalities and injuring 45, according to Wikipedia. J. The Jewish News of Northern California reports that the hotel then closed for two years.
How did Dan Hotels come to own it?
Dan Hotels bought the King David in 1958 and has owned it since, per Wikipedia and Historic Hotels Then and Now. The hotel is now the best-known property of the chain controlled by the Federmann family, which runs 16 hotels in Israel. For ownership detail, see Olam's profile of the Federmann family and Dan Hotels.
Who has stayed at the King David?
The King David has traditionally hosted heads of state, dignitaries and celebrities visiting Jerusalem, according to Wikipedia, which lists Charles III and King Hussein of Jordan among its official guests. Spain's King Alfonso XIII stayed in 1931 after abdicating, per Leading Hotels of the World. J. reports that Secretary of State Henry Kissinger used it during his shuttle diplomacy in 1974 and 1975, and that the first direct phone link between Cairo and Jerusalem was set up from its presidential suite the day before Anwar Sadat arrived in 1977.
An earlier version of this page said every US president since Eisenhower had stayed at the hotel and described Jimmy Carter shuttling between Jerusalem hotels during the Camp David talks. Olam could not support either statement and has removed them.
What is the King David's place in Israeli hospitality?
This section is Olam's analysis. The King David is less a growth asset than a brand anchor for Dan Hotels, and newer Jerusalem luxury hotels position themselves against its historical record. For the wider sector, see Israeli hotels and who owns the Israeli hotel sector.
King David Hotel FAQ
When did the King David Hotel open?
It was officially inaugurated on January 20, 1931, according to Historic Hotels Then and Now.
Who owns the King David Hotel?
Dan Hotels owns and operates it and bought it in 1958, according to Wikipedia.
How many rooms does the King David Hotel have?
237 rooms, including 52 suites, according to Wikipedia and Leading Hotels of the World.
What happened at the King David Hotel in 1946?
The Irgun bombed its southwestern corner on July 22, 1946, killing 91 people, according to Wikipedia.
How we report: Olam stories draw on public filings, company disclosures and named sources, checked by our editors. Read our methodology · Corrections
