Mohamed Al Fayed passes away at 94: Know about Fulham FC owner and controversy around his son and Princess Diana

Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of London's renowned Harrods department store and the father of Dodi Fayed, who tragically lost his life in a car crash with Princess Diana 26 years ago, has passed away at the age of 94, according to a statement released by his family.

Who was Al Fayed?

Born on January 27, 1929, in Alexandria, Egypt, Mohamed Al Fayed began his business career with interests in shipping, eventually moving to Britain in the 1960s to build a business empire.

Throughout his career, Al Fayed made headlines, most notably during 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 Harrods.


In 1984, Al Fayed and his brother purchased a 30% stake in the House of Fraser from Rowland, subsequently acquiring control of Harrods for 615 million pounds in 1985. This acquisition led to conflicts with British authorities, as they investigated the transaction and found that the brothers had "dishonestly misrepresented their origins, their wealth, their business interests, and their resources."

Despite applying for British citizenship, Al Fayed's application was rejected in 1995 and 1998.

Legacy and Wealth

The Sunday Times Rich List estimated the family's fortune at 1.7 billion pounds ($2.1 billion) in the current year, ranking Mohamed Al Fayed as the 104th richest individual in Britain.

The biggest battle in the life of Al Fayed

Al Fayed, a self-made Egyptian businessman who also held ownership of the Fulham Football Club, was profoundly affected by the loss of his son, Dodi Fayed, in a car crash alongside Princess Diana in Paris. This incident, which occurred 26 years ago, left him grief-stricken, and he spent the remainder of his life mourning the loss and engaging in a public dispute with the British establishment, which he held responsible for their tragic deaths.

In an official statement issued by the Fulham club, his family confirmed, "Mrs. Mohamed Al Fayed, her children, and grandchildren wish to confirm that her beloved husband, their father, and their grandfather, Mohamed, has passed away peacefully of old age on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. He enjoyed a long and fulfilled retirement surrounded by his loved ones."

Allegations and Conspiracy Theories

Mohamed Al Fayed firmly believed that Dodi and Princess Diana were victims of a conspiracy orchestrated by Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He asserted that the royal family had orchestrated the accident due to their disapproval of Diana's relationship with an Egyptian.

Al Fayed claimed that Diana was pregnant and planning to marry Dodi, and the royal family could not tolerate the idea of the princess marrying a Muslim.

In 2008, during an inquest, Al Fayed listed several individuals he believed were involved in the alleged conspiracy, including Prince Philip, Prince Charles, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Diana's sister Sarah McCorquodale, two former London police chiefs, and the CIA. However, the inquest concluded that Diana and Dodi's deaths were the result of the reckless actions of their driver and pursuing paparazzi.

FAQs

Why did Mohamed Al Fayed sell Harrods?

Back then, Al Fayed cited issues with pension fund trustees as the reason for his choice to divest the globally renowned department store.

Who did Dodi Fayed almost marry?

n July 1997, Fayed entered into a romantic relationship with Diana, Princess of Wales, hosting her aboard his yacht named Cujo. Earlier in that summer, he had been engaged to the American model Kelly Fisher and had acquired a residence in Malibu, California, using funds provided by his father, for both himself and Fisher.