Former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed passes away at 94
Mohamed Al Fayed, a prominent Egypt-born businessman, and well-known figure in the world of business and sports, passed away this week, as announced by his family on September 1. He was 94 years old.
Al Fayed was widely recognized as the long-time owner of the prestigious Harrods department store and also held ownership of the Fulham Football Club. However, his life was profoundly impacted by the tragic car crash that occurred 26 years ago in Paris, resulting in the loss of his son, Dodi Fayed, and Princess Diana.
This devastating incident left him in profound grief and led to years of mourning. Furthermore, Al Fayed vigorously pursued his belief that the British establishment was responsible for their untimely deaths, engaging in legal battles and investigations in an effort to seek justice and accountability.
His life and legacy encompassed not only his successful business ventures but also the personal tragedy that marked his family’s history and his unwavering quest for answers and justice surrounding the tragic events in Paris in 1997. Mohamed Al Fayed’s passing marks the end of an era and leaves behind a complex and multifaceted legacy.
The family of Mohamed Al Fayed has officially announced his passing, stating that he peacefully passed away of old age on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. His family, including his wife and their children and grandchildren, conveyed their love and confirmed his long and fulfilling retirement, during which he was surrounded by his loved ones.
Mohamed Al Fayed’s life was marked by his steadfast conviction that his son, Dodi Fayed, and Princess Diana were victims of a conspiracy orchestrated by Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He held that the royal family had engineered the tragic accident due to their disapproval of Diana’s relationship with an Egyptian.
Al Fayed asserted that Diana was not only pregnant but also planning to marry Dodi, and he contended that the royal family could not accept the idea of the princess marrying a Muslim. These beliefs fueled his determined pursuit of justice and accountability in the aftermath of the tragic events. His passing signifies the conclusion of a chapter in his life, one characterized by deep personal convictions and ongoing efforts to uncover the truth.
In 2008, Mohamed Al Fayed shared his beliefs during an inquest that alleged a conspiracy involving several individuals, including Prince Philip, two former London police chiefs, and the CIA, in the tragic deaths of Princess Diana and his son, Dodi Fayed. However, the official inquest, which thoroughly investigated the circumstances surrounding the accident, ultimately concluded that Diana and Dodi died due to the reckless actions of their driver, who was an employee of the Ritz Hotel, owned by Al Fayed, as well as the aggressive pursuit of the couple by paparazzi.
Moreover, separate inquiries conducted in both the United Kingdom and France also reached the same conclusion, dismissing the existence of a conspiracy and attributing the accident to a combination of factors, primarily the actions of the driver and the aggressive behavior of photographers. These findings stand as the official accounts of the tragic event, despite Mohamed Al Fayed’s persistent assertions to the contrary.
Mohamed Al Fayed’s complex relationship with the royal family was recently portrayed in the fifth season of “The Crown,” where the billionaire character, portrayed by Salim Daw, is depicted getting acquainted with Princess Diana.
Born on January 27, 1929, in Alexandria, Egypt, Mohamed Al Fayed was the son of a school inspector. He began his career with early investments in shipping in Italy and the Middle East before relocating to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. In Britain, he embarked on a remarkable journey of building a business empire.
During the zenith of his wealth, Al Fayed held ownership of prestigious assets such as the Ritz Hotel in Paris, the Fulham soccer team in London, and the iconic Harrods luxury department store situated in the upscale Knightsbridge neighborhood of the British capital.
The Sunday Times Rich List, which annually tracks the fortunes of the wealthiest individuals in Britain, estimated the Al Fayed family’s wealth at 1.7 billion pounds (equivalent to $2.1 billion) this year. This ranking placed Mohamed Al Fayed as the 104th richest person in the United Kingdom, reflecting the success and impact of his business ventures throughout his life.
Mohamed Al Fayed’s public profile became prominent in the 1980s when he engaged in a high-profile battle with rival tycoon “Tiny” Rowland for control of the House of Fraser group, which included the iconic Harrods department store.
Al Fayed, along with his brother, initially acquired a 30 percent stake in the House of Fraser for 130 million pounds in 1985. They subsequently secured full control by paying an additional 615 million pounds the following year. However, this transaction led to an investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry, which concluded that Al Fayed and his brother had “dishonestly misrepresented their origins, their wealth, their business interests, and their resources.” Despite these findings, the deal was ultimately allowed to proceed.
Additionally, Al Fayed played a central role in the “cash for questions” scandal that rocked British politics in the 1990s. He faced a libel lawsuit from British lawmaker Neil Hamilton, who accused Al Fayed of claiming that he had provided Hamilton with envelopes of cash and a luxurious stay at the Ritz in Paris in exchange for asking questions in the House of Commons. Although the jury found in favor of Al Fayed in December 1999, the case remained a significant episode in his public life.
Despite his various business and legal involvements, Mohamed Al Fayed was never fully embraced by the British establishment. His applications for British citizenship were twice rejected by the government, with the reasons for these rejections never publicly disclosed.
Al Fayed also made a notable foray into the world of sports when he purchased the London-based soccer team Fulham in 1997. He invested significantly in coaches and players, leading the club to achieve promotion to the Premier League in 2001. His ownership of Fulham was marked by both successes and controversies.
Beyond his business and sports endeavors, Al Fayed was known for his friendship with the legendary pop star Michael Jackson. In 2011, two years after Jackson’s passing, he had a statue of the singer erected outside Fulham’s London stadium. However, the statue was removed in 2013 by Al Fayed’s successor as the team’s owner, Shahid Khan, as it had not been warmly received by Fulham fans.
