Mohamed Al-Fayed

Business interests and holdings

Al-Fayed's commercial portfolio has included department stores, luxury hotels and a football club. He is widely known for his former ownership of the London department store Harrods and for controlling the famed Hôtel Ritz Paris at various times. He also owned Fulham Football Club until its sale in 2013. The broad scope of his investments helped make him a visible figure in British and international commerce.

Background and personal life

Born in the Roshdy district of Alexandria, Al-Fayed's early life and first business ventures took place in Egypt and the Middle East before he expanded into Europe. He was married first to Samira Khashoggi; their son Dodi Fayed was born from that marriage. In 1985 he married Finnish socialite and former model Heini Wathén; the couple have four children, including Omar.

Notable events and controversies

Al-Fayed's public profile was sharply affected by the death of his son in a 1997 car crash in Paris that also killed Diana, Princess of Wales. The collision generated intense media coverage and a variety of conspiracy claims; official inquiries examined the circumstances of the accident. Over the years Al-Fayed engaged in disputes with the press and with public institutions and was a vocal critic of official findings.

Legacy and public image

Al-Fayed remains a polarizing figure: admired by some for entrepreneurial success and criticized by others for his confrontational style and the controversies that followed his business and family life. He has been a patron of certain cultural and civic activities and has left a visible mark on the retail and hospitality landscapes of London and Paris.

Quick facts

• Nationality: Egyptian-born businessman (business profile).
• Major properties: including the Hôtel Ritz Paris and the former Harrods.
• Sports: former owner of Fulham FC.
• Family: father of Dodi, who died alongside Princess Diana in a 1997 car accident in Paris.
• Residence and personal life: originally from Alexandria; married to Heini Wathén.