LONDON (AP) — Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of the renowned Harrods department store in London, has passed away at the age of 94, as confirmed by his family on Friday.
Al Fayed, a successful self-made Egyptian businessman who also owned Fulham Football Club, was left devastated by the tragic car crash that claimed the lives of his son, Dodi Fayed, and Princess Diana in Paris 26 years ago. Since then, he spent his life in mourning and in a battle against the British establishment, whom he held responsible for their deaths.
In a statement released by the Fulham club, his family expressed, “Mrs Mohamed Al Fayed, along with her children and grandchildren, wishes to confirm the peaceful passing of her beloved husband, their father, and their grandfather, Mohamed, on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. He enjoyed a long and fulfilling retirement surrounded by his loved ones.”
Al Fayed firmly believed that Dodi and Diana’s deaths were part of a conspiracy orchestrated by Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He asserted that the royal family arranged the accident due to their disapproval of Diana’s relationship with an Egyptian.
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During a 2008 inquest, Al Fayed implicated various alleged conspirators including Prince Philip, Prince Charles, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Diana’s sister Sarah McCorquodale, two former London police chiefs, and the CIA.
The inquest concluded that Diana and Dodi’s deaths were the result of reckless actions by their driver and paparazzi chasing them.
Mohamed Al Fayed was born on January 27, 1929, in Alexandria, Egypt. He was the son of a school inspector and began his business journey with ventures in shipping before relocating to Britain in the 1960s to build his empire.
Al Fayed thrived in the spotlight and gained notoriety in the 1980s as he battled with rival mogul “Tiny” Rowland for control of the House of Fraser group, which included Harrods.
In 1984, Al Fayed and his brother acquired a 30% stake in House of Fraser from Rowland and took over Harrods for £615 million the following year. This transaction triggered a conflict with British authorities, as the Department of Trade and Industry’s investigation revealed that the brothers had dishonestly misrepresented their origins, wealth, business interests, and resources.
In addition, Al Fayed played a significant role in the “cash for questions” scandal that shook British politics in the 1990s.
Al Fayed was sued for libel by British lawmaker Neil Hamilton after alleging that he had provided envelopes of cash and a luxurious stay at the Ritz in Paris in exchange for Hamilton asking questions in the House of Commons. During the trial, Hamilton’s lawyer, Desmond Browne, described the allegation as pure fiction, stating, “If there were Olympic medals for lying, Mr. Fayed would be a prime contender for a gold one.”
In December 1999, the jury ruled in favor of Al Fayed.
Al Fayed made two unsuccessful attempts to obtain British citizenship in 1995 and 1998.
According to the Sunday Times Rich List, which tracks the wealth of Britain’s wealthiest individuals, the Al Fayed family had a fortune of £1.7 billion ($2.1 billion) this year, placing Mohamed Al Fayed as the 104th richest person in the country.
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