2023-09-02 22:34:58
London ∙ Mohamed Al Fayed (94), the Egyptian millionaire and father of Dodi Al Fayed, who died in a car explosion with Princess Diana, has died. He is the stalwart of large enterprises such as Harrods department store, Fulham Football Club and the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
Al Fayyad was born in Egypt in 1929 as the son of a primary school teacher and immigrated to Britain in the 1970s. Al Fayyad entered the industry through the relatives of his first wife Samira Khashoggi. Samira is the cousin of slain Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In the 1960s, the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, made Al Fayed a partner in the development of Dubai. Then he introduced many British companies in Dubai. In 1966, he became a financial adviser to the Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddin III. Al Fayyad bought the Ritz Hotel in Paris in 1979 and in 1984 bought a 30% stake in House of Fraser, owners of Harrods department store. The deal caused great controversy in Britain and Al Fayed was arrested in 1998 on charges of theft.
Al Fayyad twice applied for British citizenship but was rejected. Al Fayad’s wife is Heini Wathen, a native of Finland. He has 5 children besides Dodi. Al Fayed was buried next to his son Dodi’s grave following the services held at the London Central Mosque.
Intimacy with Diana
Diana, who was a frequent visitor to Harrods in the 1980s, met Al Fayyad and his son Dodi in July 1986 at a polo tournament sponsored by Harrods. Later they became friends. In mid-1997, Diana and her sons William and Harry were guests of Al Fayed in Paris. On August 30, Dodi and Diana met with an accident when they were traveling in a speeding car following being harassed by paparazzi photographers at the Ritz Hotel with Dodi. Al-Fayed, who accused the British royal family of planning the accident and carried out the British intelligence agency MI6, also made controversial revelations, including that Diana was pregnant at the time of her death.
English Summary : Mohamed Al Fayed passed away
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