Egyptian-born businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, who owned the prestigious department store Harrods, passed away at the age of 94. His death occurred almost 26 years to the day after the tragic car crash in Paris that claimed the lives of his eldest son, Dodi, and Princess Diana on August 31, 1997.
In a statement released by Fulham FC, his family announced, “Mrs. Mohamed Al Fayed, her children, and grandchildren confirm the peaceful passing of their beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Mohamed, due to old age on August 30, 2023. He enjoyed a long and fulfilling retirement surrounded by loved ones, and the family requests privacy during this time.”
Fayed was born in Alexandria and was the son of a schoolteacher. His entry into the business world began when he met his first wife, Samira Khashoggi, sister to the Saudi millionaire arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, who hired him for his Saudi Arabian import business. This role facilitated his connections in Egypt and led to the establishment of his own shipping business. In 1966, he became an advisor to one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, the Sultan of Brunei.
Relocation to the UK
He relocated to the United Kingdom in the 1970s and, in 1979, along with his brother Ali, acquired the Paris Ritz Hotel. Their next endeavor was Harrods, and in 1985, after a protracted and acrimonious struggle with British businessman Roland “Tiny” Rowland, they successfully secured a £615 million takeover of the Knightsbridge store.
However, a subsequent government inquiry into the takeover, officially published in 1990, revealed that Fayed and his brother had been less than forthright about their wealth and backgrounds in securing the acquisition. They contested these allegations as unjust. Fayed’s initial application for British citizenship was denied five years later.
Scandal
Fayed’s disputes with the British government escalated in 1994 when he approached The Guardian with allegations that he had made payments to Conservative MPs to raise questions in parliament on his behalf. This scandal led to the resignation of MP Tim Smith as a Northern Ireland minister and the revelation that MP Neil Hamilton had accepted bribes, including a stay at the Ritz and a free shopping spree at Harrods. Despite losing a libel case he filed against Fayed, Hamilton did not step down and eventually lost his seat in the 1997 general election.
Fayed also exposed cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken’s involvement in a Saudi arms deal, resulting in Aitken’s imprisonment for perjury and obstructing justice. Despite residing in Britain for decades, Fayed was never granted citizenship and at one point threatened to relocate to France, which had bestowed upon him the Legion of Honour, its highest civilian award.
In 2010, Fayed sold Harrods to the investment arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund for a reported £1.5 billion. It was reported that he had once expressed a desire to be interred at Harrods after his passing, stating to the Financial Times in 2002 that he wanted his body to be placed in a glass mausoleum on the store’s roof for public visitation.
Fulham Football Club
Additionally, Fayed attempted to revive the satirical magazine Punch without success. In 1997, he purchased Fulham Football Club in west London for £6.25 million, famously inviting Michael Jackson to attend a game at Craven Cottage. Under his ownership, the club transformed from a struggling outfit into a top-flight team.
In 1999, Mohamed Al Fayed allowed the club’s manager, Kevin Keegan, to take over as the England national team manager. He sold the club to billionaire businessman Shahid Khan in 2013. A year later, Fayed claimed that the club’s relegation was a result of the removal of a giant statue of Jackson that he had commissioned outside the stadium, defiantly stating that critics could “go to hell.”
Shahid Khan paid tribute to Fayed, acknowledging his positive impact on Fulham Football Club’s history and expressing gratitude for the trust Fayed had placed in him. Fayed married Finnish socialite and former model Heini Wathén in 1985, and they had four children: Jasmine, Karim, Camilla, and Omar.
Dodi and Diana
Following the deaths of Dodi and Diana, Fayed waged a prolonged campaign asserting that the car crash was not accidental but orchestrated by British security services. However, French authorities concluded it was an accident, attributed in part to speeding and a high alcohol level in the driver Henri Paul’s blood. In 2006, a Metropolitan police inquiry led by Lord Stevens found no evidence supporting claims of security service involvement.
Al Fayed had cultivated a friendship with Princess Diana through his sponsorship of charitable causes and events attended by members of the royal family. This relationship was recently depicted in season five of “The Crown,” where he was portrayed by Salim Daw.
In 1987, Fayed established the Al Fayed Charitable Foundation with the aim of improving the lives of underprivileged, traumatized, and seriously ill children. As of November 2022, Forbes estimated Fayed’s net worth at $1.9 billion.
