View source for Mohamed Al-Fayed

{{Short description|Egyptian businessman (1929–2023)}}
{{Redirect|al-Fayed||Fayed}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Mohamed Al-Fayed
| native_name        = {{nobold|محمد الفايد}}
| native_name_lang   = ar
| image              = Mohamed Al-Fayed.jpg
| caption            = Al-Fayed in 2011
| birth_date         = {{birth date|df=y|1929|01|27}}
| birth_place        = [[Alexandria]], Egypt
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2023|8|30|1929|1|27|df=y}}
| death_place        = London, England
| burial_place       = [[Barrow Green Court]]
| occupation         = Businessman
| spouse             = {{ubl
  | {{marriage|[[Samira Khashoggi]]|1954|1956|end=div}}
  | {{marriage|[[Heini Wathén]]|1985}}
  }}
| children           = 5, including [[Dodi Fayed|Dodi]] and [[Omar Fayed|Omar]]
}}

'''Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Fayed'''{{efn|{{langx|ar|محمد عبد المنعم الفايد|Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Munʿīm  al-Fāyid}}, {{IPA|arz|mæˈħæmmæd ʕæbde‿lˈmenʕem elˈfæːjed}}.}} ({{IPAc-en|æ|l|ˈ|f|aɪ|.|ɛ|d}}; 27 January 1929{{snd}}30 August 2023) was an Egyptian businessman whose residence and primary business interests were in the United Kingdom from the mid-1960s. His business interests included ownership of the [[Hôtel Ritz Paris]], [[Harrods]] department store and [[Fulham Football Club]]. At the time of his death in 2023,  ''[[Forbes]]'' estimated his wealth at US$2&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The World's Celebrities|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mohamed-al-fayed/|magazine=Forbes|access-date=1 September 2023|archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808000136/https://www.forbes.com/profile/mohamed-al-fayed/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since his death,  Al-Fayed has been accused by multiple women of [[sexual harassment]] and [[Sexual assault|assault]].

Fayed was married to [[Samira Khashoggi]] from 1954 to 1956. They had a son, [[Dodi Fayed|Dodi]], who was in a romantic relationship with [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], when they both [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|died in a car crash in Paris]] in 1997. Fayed falsely claimed that the crash was orchestrated by [[MI6]] on the instructions of [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]. In 2011, Fayed financially supported an unreleased documentary film ''[[Unlawful Killing (film)|Unlawful Killing]]'', that presented his version of events.

From 1995 onwards, Fayed was the subject of media scrutiny and investigations into allegations of sexist and discriminatory practices he mandated at Harrods, of [[sexual harassment]] and [[sexual assault|assault]]. Early media scrutiny of sexual misconduct allegations against Al-Fayed was curtailed by his [[Strategic_lawsuit_against_public_participation|frequent threats of litigation]]. He developed a reputation for spending large sums on litigation against news organizations reporting on sexual assault allegations against him. In 2024 he became the subject of multiple posthumous accusations of [[rape]], with over 200 women making complaints of illegal activity by September of that year.

==Early life==
Fayed was born on 27 January 1929 in the [[Roshdy]] neighbourhood of [[Alexandria]], in the [[Kingdom of Egypt]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Who's Who |date=2008 |location=London |publisher=A & C Black |isbn=978-0-7136-8555-8}}</ref> the eldest son of an Egyptian primary school teacher from [[Asyut]]. His year of birth has been disputed.<ref name="BBC20080407">{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7248639.stm|title=Profile of Mohamed Al Fayed |date=7 April 2008 |access-date=3 November 2021 |website=[[BBC News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428183025/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7248639.stm |archive-date=28 April 2021 |url-status=live|language=en}}</ref> The [[Department of Trade]] in 1988 found his date of birth was 27 January 1929.<ref name="BBC20080407" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Trelford |first1=Donald |title=Time to set the record straight on the Observer and the Harrods takeover |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/may/16/observer-harrods-takeover-mohamed-fayed |website=The Observer |access-date=19 September 2024 |date=15 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/02/mohamed-al-fayed-perennial-outsider-savvy-businessman-and-grief-broken-father |access-date=19 September 2024 |title=Mohamed al Fayed: Perennial outsider, savvy businessman and grief-broken father |newspaper=The Observer |date=2 September 2023 |last1=Anthony |first1=Andrew }}</ref> His brothers Ali and Salah were his business colleagues.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wild |first=Abigail |date=10 January 2004 |title=Beset by secrets and lies Profile: Mohamed al Fayed |work=[[Sunday Herald]] |location=Glasgow |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12518304.Beset_by_secrets_and_lies_Profile__Mohamed_al_Fayed_A_high_profile_bid_to_become_a_British_citizen_and_the_death_of_his_son__Dodi__have_thrust_the_Egyptian_tycoon_into_the_spotlight__but_who_is_the_real_Mohamed_al_Fayed__By_Abigail_Wild/ |access-date=22 April 2018 |archive-date=22 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422202414/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12518304.Beset_by_secrets_and_lies_Profile__Mohamed_al_Fayed_A_high_profile_bid_to_become_a_British_citizen_and_the_death_of_his_son__Dodi__have_thrust_the_Egyptian_tycoon_into_the_spotlight__but_who_is_the_real_Mohamed_al_Fayed__By_Abigail_Wild/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the age of nineteen Al-Fayed was selling bottles of [[Coca-Cola]] on the streets of Alexandria, and sold [[Singer sewing machine]]s at the age of twenty-one.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 9.</ref> In 1952 Al-Fayed was hired by a friend, Tousson El Barrawi, and the seventeen-year-old [[Adnan Khashoggi]] for their furniture import business.<ref>Bower 1998, p.9.</ref> Al-Fayed excelled at the business and impressed Adnan's father, Mohamed Kashoggi, the personal physician of the [[King of Saudi Arabia]]. In the early 1950s Al-Fayed travelled to Europe for the first time, visiting France, Italy and Switzerland.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 13.</ref> Returning to Egypt, Al-Fayed confessed to his wife, [[Samira Kashoggi]], Adnan Kashoggi's sister, that he had had an affair, and she demanded a divorce.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 14.</ref> Al-Fayed terminated his partnership with Adnan Kashoggi, and secretly withdrew £100,000 from Kashoggi's Al Nasr trading company. Kashoggi issued a writ against Al-Fayed for the return of the money, and later agreed with Al-Fayed to forgive the money and other loans and debts in return for Samira's freedom to remarry and return to Egypt.<ref>Bower 1998, p.18.</ref> Following Egyptian [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|President Nasser]]'s threats to expropropriate foreign businesses, Al-Fayed was able to take control of a small shipping company, owned by Leon Carasso, who wished to emigrate.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 16.</ref> Carasso later claimed that Al-Fayed had defaulted on the agreed payment for his business.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 17.</ref> Fayed also acquired interests in other transport companies at favourable prices. After Nasser ordered the confiscation of Egyptian property in 1961, Al-Fayed transferred ownership of his Middle Eastern Navigation Company to Genoa in Italy.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 19.</ref><ref name="Times20100510">{{cite news |last=Lindsay |first=Robert |date=10 May 2010 |title=Mohamed Al Fayed — the outsider with a taste for confrontation |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/mohamed-al-fayed-the-outsider-with-a-taste-for-confrontation-n9tsq2qp8z0 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709125823/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mohamed-al-fayed-the-outsider-with-a-taste-for-confrontation-n9tsq2qp8z0 |archive-date=9 July 2017 |access-date=25 January 2018 |work=[[The Times]] |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

On 12 June 1964, Al-Fayed arrived in [[Haiti]], then under the control of [[François "Papa Doc" Duvalier]]. Al-Fayed entered the country on a Kuwaiti passport, and introduced himself as [[Sheikh]] Mohamed Fayed.<ref name="Saturday Night">{{Cite news|last=Sanger|first=Julian|title=Life before Harrods|url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=978278&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site|magazine=[[Saturday Night (magazine)|Saturday Night]]|date =June 1998|accessdate=21 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="maureen-orth" /> Shortly after his arrival, Duvalier cancelled a ten-year contract with a U.S. company that gave them monopoly control over Haiti's oil industry and signed a similar contract with Al-Fayed for fifty years.<ref name="Saturday Night" /> Al-Fayed also worked with the geologist [[George de Mohrenschildt]]. He terminated his stay in Haiti six months later when a sample of "crude oil" provided by Haitian associates proved to be low-grade [[molasses]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Alex |last=Tunzelmann |title=Red Heat: Conspiracy, Murder and the Cold War in the Caribbean |publisher=Henry Holt and Co., 2011 |page=[https://archive.org/details/redheatconspirac0000vont/page/330 330f]|isbn=978-0-8050-9067-3 |title-link=Red Heat: Conspiracy, Murder and the Cold War in the Caribbean |date=29 March 2011}}</ref> Al-Fayed promised to use his connections in Dubai to help bring investment to the Caribbean island, if they allowed him to build an oil refinery, and develop the wharf at [[Port-au-Prince]].<ref name="maureen-orth" /> Al-Fayed had exclusive control over the collection of fees for docking, unloading, and loading at Haiti's main port, and this caused resentment in the Haitian shipping industry. Al-Fayed was 'tapped' for $30,000 by Duvalier, but rather than pay, and fearful of the growing anger of the shipping agents, he left Haiti in December 1964. Fayed later claimed that the Haitian government owed him $2 million. The 1988 [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]] (DTI) report on Al-Fayed's background stated "we have no doubt at all that Mohamed Fayed perpetrated a substantial deceit on the government and people of Haiti in 1964 ... he deprived the harbor authority of over US $100,000 of money it could ill-afford to lose" <ref name="Saturday Night" />

Fayed then moved to England, where he lived in central London.<ref name="Times20100510" />

== Career in Dubai ==
Ingratiating himself in London's Arab expatriate community, Al-Fayed met an Iraqi businessman, Salim Abu Alwan, and through Alwan was introduced to [[Mahdi Al Tajir]].<ref name="Bower 1998, p.27">Bower 1998, p.27.</ref> Tajir was then an adviser to Sheikh [[Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum]] of the United Arab Emirates. Rashid was the Emir of [[Dubai]], and oil was soon to be discovered in Dubai, which would transform the wealth of the emirate.

Tajir informed Al-Fayed that Dubai was penniless and needed to borrow £1 million to build modern harbour facilities.<ref>Bower 1998, p.31.</ref> Al-Fayed secured a loan of £9 million from Imre Rochlitz, an American lawyer. Rochlitz's Jewish ancestry caused embarrassment to Tajir, and later caused Rochlitz to reject Al-Fayed's offer of a formal partnership.<ref>Bower 1998, p.33.</ref> Al-Fayed earned £1.5 million commission from the contract for British engineering company [[Costain Group|Costain]] to carry out the work to the port. Al-Fayed also assisted in securing finance for the [[Dubai World Trade Centre]]. The banker [[David Douglas-Home]] of [[Morgan Grenfell]] was responsible for managing the contract.<ref>Bower 1998, p.36.</ref> By the mid-1970s Costain had gained over £280 million of contracts thanks to Al-Fayed and Tajir, and Al-Fayed bought 20.84% of Costain's shares. He was later appointed a company director.<ref>Bower 1998, p.50.</ref>

With his earnings from commissions on various projects in Dubai, Al-Fayed bought a Rolls-Royce, a large chalet in [[Gstaad]], and the remaining apartments of 60 [[Park Lane]] in [[Mayfair]], where he had been living for the past few years.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.39">Bower 1998, p.39.</ref>

In 1974 Al-Fayed met [[Tiny Rowland|Roland 'Tiny' Rowland]], a British businessman with extensive interests in Southern Africa, and the chairman of international conglomerate [[Lonrho]]. Fayed's complex professional relationship with Rowland dominated his life for the next twenty years, with legal repercussions continuing into the late 1990s.

Rowland persuaded Al-Fayed to exchange his shares in Costain for 5.5 million shares in Lonrho in March 1975, and Al-Fayed used the profit from the deal to buy another 3 million shares in Lonrho and become a director of the company.<ref>Bower 1998, p.55.</ref> Al-Fayed soon became alarmed at Rowland's use of Lonrho's money to fund his lifestyle and to pay large bribes in Africa, as well as his syphoning off company profits into a secret bank account in Switzerland.<ref>Bower 1998, p.56.</ref>

The British [[Department of Trade and Industry (United Kingdom)|Department of Trade and Industry]] began to investigate Lonrho in early 1976, and an alarmed Al-Fayed quit the company in May 1976. He sold his Lonrho shares to Kuwaiti investors and bought back his Costain shares for £11 million.<ref>Bower 1998, p.57.</ref> Tajir's influence in Dubai was waning by 1977, and Al-Fayed was excluded from the commission process for a new aluminium smelter, and the development of [[Jebel Ali]], putting Costain's future profits at risk.<ref>Bower 1998, p.71.</ref>

In 1993 Al-Fayed was visited at Harrods by [[Mohammed Alabbar]], the director of Dubai's Department of Economic Development.<ref>Bower 1998, p.302.</ref> Alabbar had been appointed by Sheikh Maktoum to eradicate the system of large commission payments from previous decades. Tajir was challenged in the British courts to repay his alleged excessive profits earned from the construction of Dubai's aluminium smelter, and Al-Fayed was targeted over his management contract of the Dubai World Trade Centre. Al-Fayed's contract to manage the centre was later terminated by the Maktoums, and Al-Fayed sued them for compensation estimated between £30 to 90 million.<ref>Bower 1998, p.342.</ref> The case came to court in October 1994, and after trying to unsuccessfully settle the case with the Maktoums, Al-Fayed was due to testify on 17 October. Al-Fayed's lawyer informed the court that morning that he had been taken seriously ill with neck and back complications, and could not fly to Dubai as a result.<ref>Bower 1998, p.343.</ref>

Alabbar had secretly taped Al-Fayed on his way to Harrods that morning, and the tapes were shown to the court the next day. Al-Fayed's lack of ill health was evident, and Al-Fayed was informed by his lawyer of the disastrous effect that his deception had on the case that day.<ref>Bower 1998, p.345.</ref>

In the mid-1960s, he met the ruler of Dubai, [[Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum]], who entrusted him with helping transform Dubai, where he set up IMS (International Marine Services) in 1968.<ref>{{cite book|last=Salihovic |first=Elnur |title=Major Players in the Muslim Business World |url={{GBurl|aSa1DAAAQBAJ|page=117}} |date=5 October 2015|publisher=Universal Publishers |isbn=9781627340526 |pages=117–118}}</ref> Fayed introduced British companies including the Costain Group (of which he became a director and 30% [[shareholder]]<ref name="Independent20071006">{{cite news |last=Vallely |first=Paul |date=6 October 2007 |title=Mohamed al-Fayed: The outsider |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/mohamed-alfayed-the-outsider-396133.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/mohamed-alfayed-the-outsider-396133.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |access-date=26 February 2013 |newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>), [[Bernard Sunley & Sons]], and [[Taylor Woodrow]] to the emirate to carry out construction work.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/08/business/harrod-s-new-owner-mohamed-al-fayed-a-quiet-acquisitor-is-caught-in-a-cross-fire.html |title=Harrod's New Owner: Mohamed Al-Fayed; a Quiet Acquisitor Is Caught in a Cross Fire |last=Feder |first=Barnaby J. |date=8 September 1985 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=25 January 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=26 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070914/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/08/business/harrod-s-new-owner-mohamed-al-fayed-a-quiet-acquisitor-is-caught-in-a-cross-fire.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Times20100510"/>

===Relationship with the Sultan of Brunei===

Al-Fayed became a financial adviser to the then [[Sultan of Brunei]] [[Omar Ali Saifuddien III]] in 1966.<ref name="Independent20071006" /> Al-Fayed told [[Maureen Orth]] that he had known [[Hassanal Bolkiah]], who succeeded Saifuddien on his abdication, since the sultan's childhood and that they had met during the building of a trade centre in Brunei.<ref name="maureen-orth" /> Tiny Rowland told DTI inspectors that Al-Fayed had told him that he negotiated an introduction to the sultan for $500,000 plus a percentage of any resulting business with an Indian holy man and alleged fraudster, [[Chandraswami|Shri Chandra Swamiji Maharaj]].<ref name="maureen-orth" /> Rowland later admitted this account was untrue.<ref>Bower 1998, p.164.</ref>

In mid-1984 Al-Fayed received several powers of attorney and written authorisations from the sultan to carry out tasks for him. These gave Al-Fayed access to large sums of the sultan's money. The sultan was then the richest man in the world.<ref name="maureen-orth" /> During this period, the bank of the three Fayed brothers, the [[Royal Bank of Scotland]], received a transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars from Switzerland into their accounts.<ref name="maureen-orth" />  RBS assumed that the money belonged to the sultan, but Al-Fayed told the bank that his portfolio was separate from the sultan's. The DTI report noted that "It may be no more than coincidence that this vast increase in disposable wealth followed quickly on the admission of Mohamed to the sultan's confidence ... It is, however, a very powerful coincidence."<ref name="maureen-orth" />

Using a power of attorney, Al-Fayed bought the [[Dorchester Hotel]] for the sultan in 1985.<ref name="maureen-orth" /> Al-Fayed accompanied the sultan to [[10 Downing Street]] to visit Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] in January 1985, with [[pound sterling|sterling]] in decline and threatening the economy.<ref name="maureen-orth" /> The sultan, who had moved £5 billion of assets out of pounds, moved the assets back into sterling. Al-Fayed took credit for this and for persuading the sultan to give half a billion pounds of contracts to British defence industries.<ref name="maureen-orth" />

==Rowland and later business career==
Fayed briefly joined the board of the mining conglomerate [[Lonrho]] in 1975 but left after a disagreement.<ref>{{cite news |title=History of Harrods department store |work=BBC News |date=8 May 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10103783 |access-date=3 September 2023 |archive-date=7 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307162401/http://www.bbc.com/news/10103783 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1979 he bought [[Hôtel Ritz Paris|the Ritz]] hotel in Paris, France, for US$30&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Paris Ritz|first=Mark|last=Boxer|publisher=Thames and Hudson|date=1991|isbn=978-0-500-01427-1}}</ref> In 1984 Fayed and his brothers purchased a 30% stake in [[House of Fraser]], a group that included the London store of [[Harrods]], from Tiny Rowland. In 1985, he and his brothers bought the remaining 70% of House of Fraser for £615 million. Rowland claimed that the Fayed brothers lied about their background and wealth, and he put pressure on the government to investigate them. A DTI inquiry into the Fayeds was launched. The DTI's subsequent report was critical, but no action was taken against the Fayeds, and while many believed the contents of the report, others felt it was politically motivated.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lisa |last=Buckingham |date=5 June 1997 |title=Finance: DTI inquiries under attack |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Rowland described his relationship with the Fayed family in his book ''A Hero from Zero''.<ref>{{cite book| title =  A Hero from Zero| year = 1998 | author = R. W. Rowland | publisher = Greenaway Harrison, London}}</ref> 
[[File:Tony Curtis & Mohamed Al-Fayed - The Courier-News (1989).jpg|thumb|upright|Al-Fayed with [[Tony Curtis]], 4 January 1989]]

In 1998 Rowland, who died that year, accused Fayed of stealing papers and jewels from his Harrods [[safe deposit box]]. Fayed was arrested, along with the director of Harrods security, John MacNamara, and four other employees, but the charges were dropped.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/136111.stm |title=Harrods Box Charges Dropped |work=[[BBC News]] |date=20 July 1998 |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105231857/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/136111.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Sensitive documents were stolen, along with jewellery, rare stamps and a gold cigarette case, among other items.<ref name="fayeds-court-bill">{{Cite news |date=5 November 1998|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/208610.stm|title=Al-Fayed's £2 million court bill|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Fayed settled the dispute with a payment to Rowland's widow; he also sued the [[Metropolitan Police]] for false arrest in 2002, but lost the case.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/aug/14/jamiewilson |title=Fayed loses High Court Action Against Met |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=13 August 2002 |first=Jamie |last=Wilson |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=12 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512020457/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/aug/14/jamiewilson |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1994 House of Fraser went public, but Fayed retained ownership of Harrods.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.housefraserarchive.ac.uk/about/ |website=The House of Fraser Archive |access-date=3 September 2023 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903143549/https://www.housefraserarchive.ac.uk/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He unsuccessfully applied for [[British citizenship]] twice, in 1994 and 1999.<ref name="Al Fayed Story">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/55867.stm |title=Al Fayed: A Unique Story of Rags to Riches |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 February 1998 |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105231946/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55867.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/law-report-minister-acted-unfairly-towards-the-fayeds-1353132.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/law-report-minister-acted-unfairly-towards-the-fayeds-1353132.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |title=Law Report: Minister acted unfairly towards the Fayeds |date=19 November 1996}}</ref> It has been suggested that his feud with Rowland contributed to the first refusal.<ref name="BBC20080407" /><ref name="fayed-fumes">{{Cite news |last1=Burrell |first1=Ian |last2=Buncombe |first2=Andrew |date=7 June 1999 |title=Fayed fumes over passport decision |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/fayed-fumes-over-passport-decision-1091870.html |work=The Independent |location=London}}</ref>

In 1996 Al-Fayed bought the rights to the historic British humorous magazine ''[[Punch (magazine)|Punch]]'', and it was relaunched later that year, at a cost of £3 million, under new editor Peter McKay.<ref name="loss-making">{{Cite news|last=Peachey|first =Paul|title=Loss-making 'Punch' magazine closes for the second time|magazine=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/lossmaking-punch-magazine-closes-for-the-second-time-190563.html|location=London|date=30 May 2002}}</ref><ref name="mle">John Morrish, Paul Bradshaw, ''Magazine Editing: In Print and Online''. Routledge, 2012. {{ISBN|1136642072}} (p. ƒƒ32).</ref> ''Punch'' had previously been published from 1841 to 1992. The relaunch was not successful, with ''Punch'' failing to match its satirical competitor, ''[[Private Eye]]''. ''Punch'' folded for a second time in 2002.<ref name="punch-fold">{{cite news|title=Punch magazine to fold|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2015639.stm|author=BBC News Online | date=30 May 2002}}</ref>

In January 1997 Al-Fayed established a new political organisation, The People's Trust, to promote a crusade against a "culture of violence". The establishment of The People's Trust followed Al-Fayed's support for anti-abortion candidates and the Christian Democrat, the newspaper of the Movement for Christian Democracy.<ref name="fayed-funds">{{Cite news |date=13 January 1997 |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/fayed-funds-new-political-crusade-1282994.html|title=Fayed funds new political crusade|work=The Independent|location=London|first=John|last=Rentoul}}</ref> The People's Trust planned to write to all candidates in the [[1997 United Kingdom general election]] in order to identify a group of MPs who put "their consciences, their constituents and their country at the heart of their politics, rather than their party" <ref name="fayed-funds"/> The People's Trust was dissolved in September 1998 after failing to file its accounts.<ref name="trust-dissolved">{{Cite news |date=21 September 1998 |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/fayeds-cleanup-trust-is-dissolved-1199636.html|title=Fayed's clean-up trust is dissolved|work=The Independent|location=London|first=Fran|last=Abrams}}</ref>

After ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' published [[Maureen Orth]]'s article "[[Holy War at Harrods]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maureenorth.com/1995/09/holy-war-at-harrods-mohamed-al-fayed/|title=Holy War at Harrods: Mohamed Al Fayed – Maureen Orth|accessdate=27 September 2024}}</ref> Al-Fayed sued the American magazine for libel in September 1995 but withdrew his suit in 1997. Al-Fayed invited [[Tom Bower]] to write his biography in 1996. Bower's biography, ''[[Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography]]'' was published in 1998. Al-Fayed announced his intention to sue, but withdrew his suit. Orth and Bower were both attempted victims of entrapment by Al-Fayed, with Al-Fayed's staff offering allegedly stolen documents to the writers.<ref>Bower 1998, p.xii.</ref>

===Cash-for-questions===
In 1994, in what became known as the [[cash-for-questions affair]], Fayed revealed the names of MPs he had paid to ask questions in [[Houses of Parliament|Parliament]] on his behalf, but who had failed to declare their fees. It saw [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MPs [[Neil Hamilton (politician)|Neil Hamilton]] and [[Tim Smith (UK politician)|Tim Smith]] leave the government in disgrace, and a [[Committee on Standards in Public Life]] established to prevent such corruption occurring again. Fayed also revealed that cabinet minister [[Jonathan Aitken]] stayed for free at the Ritz Hotel in Paris at the same time as a group of Saudi arms dealers, leading to Aitken's unsuccessful libel case and later imprisonment for [[perjury]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/196466.stm|title=UK Politics: Talking Politics, Neil Hamilton – A chronology|work=[[BBC News]]|date=19 October 1998|access-date=13 November 2022|archive-date=3 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403043705/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/196466.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> During this period, Al-Fayed's spokesman was [[Michael Cole (public relations)|Michael Cole]], a former [[BBC]] journalist.<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Boggan |date=21 February 1998 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/conspiracies-abound-as-cole-quits-toughest-job-in-pr-1145917.html |title=Conspiracies abound as Cole quits 'toughest job in PR' |work=[[The Independent]] |url-access=registration |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404021109/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/conspiracies-abound-as-cole-quits-toughest-job-in-pr-1145917.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hamilton lost a libel action against Al-Fayed in December 1999<ref>{{cite news |first1=Matt |last1=Wells |first2=Jamie |last2=Wilson |first3=David |last3=Pallister |date=22 December 1999 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/dec/22/hamiltonvalfayed.conservatives |title=A greedy, corrupt liar |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=11 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081833/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/dec/22/hamiltonvalfayed.conservatives |url-status=live }}</ref> and an appeal against the verdict in December 2000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/dec/21/hamiltonvalfayed |title=Neil Hamilton loses libel appeal |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 December 2000 |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510191751/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/dec/21/hamiltonvalfayed |url-status=live }}</ref> The former MP has always denied that he was paid by Al-Fayed for asking questions in Parliament. Hamilton's libel action related to a [[Channel 4]] ''[[Dispatches (TV series)|Dispatches]]'' documentary broadcast on 16 January 1997<ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmstnprv/030ii/sp0157.htm "Appendix 33 – continued: Appendix 1 Channel 4 and Fourth Estate Press Releases"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027120524/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmstnprv/030ii/sp0157.htm |date=27 October 2016 }}, Select Committee on Standards and Privileges First Report, House of Commons, January 1997</ref> in which Al-Fayed stated that the MP had received up to £110,000 in cash and other gratuities for asking parliamentary questions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/573630.stm |title=Hamilton loses libel case |work=[[BBC News]] |date=21 December 1999 |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912221014/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/573630.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Hamilton's basis for his appeal was that the original verdict was invalid because Al-Fayed had paid £10,000 for documents stolen from the dustbins of Hamilton's legal representatives by [[Benjamin Pell]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Steven |last=Moss |date=12 December 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/dec/12/hamiltonvalfayed.stevenmorris |title=Fayed 'paid for stolen papers' |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510193021/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/dec/12/hamiltonvalfayed.stevenmorris |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2003 Fayed moved from [[Surrey]] to Switzerland, alleging a breach in an agreement with [[Inland Revenue|the British tax authority]]. In 2005, he moved back to Britain, saying that he "regards Britain as home".<ref name="BBC20080407" /> He moored a yacht called the ''[[Sokar (yacht)|Sokar]]'' in [[Monaco]] prior to selling it in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://holiday.monacoeye.com/monaco_yacht_show.php |title=Monaco Yacht Show |publisher=Holiday |access-date=22 August 2010 |archive-date=3 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803045035/http://holiday.monacoeye.com/monaco_yacht_show.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===House of Fraser group and Harrods===
In 1984, Al-Fayed and his brother Ali, purchased a 30 per cent stake for £138 million<ref name="maureen-orth"/> in the [[House of Fraser]], a group that included the [[Knightsbridge]] department store [[Harrods]], from Tiny Rowland, the head of Lonrho. Lonrho had been pursuing control of the House of Fraser since 1977, and had been prevented from acquiring the company by the [[Monopolies and Mergers Commission]] in a 1981 ruling, although its purchase of ''[[The Observer]]'' was approved.<ref name="set-record">{{Cite news|date=16 May 2010|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/16/observer-harrods-takeover-mohamed-fayed|title=Time to set the record straight on the Observer and the Harrods takeover|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Donald|last=Trelford}}</ref>

After his purchase of the House of Fraser shares, Al-Fayed demanded that Rowland leave the board of House of Fraser,<ref name="maureen-orth"/> and courted the chairman of House of Fraser, Roland Smith, who received a retroactive bonus once Al-Fayed had acquired the company.<ref name="maureen-orth"/> The [[Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]], [[John Biffen]], ruled that Lonrho must give an undertaking not to buy any more shares in the House of Fraser, a ruling that left Roland "incandescent".<ref name="set-record"/> Following the ruling Rowland began to sell shares to Al-Fayed, whom he had met while Al-Fayed was briefly a director of Lonrho. Rowland later said that "I knew that Tootsie (as Rowland called Al-Fayed) could never afford to purchase the whole of House of Fraser."<ref name="set-record"/>

Al-Fayed bought the remaining 70 per cent of the House of Fraser in early 1985 for £615 million, sparking a bitter feud between him and Rowland. The former editor of ''The Observer'', [[Donald Trelford]], believes that Rowland was "...certainly motivated in his vendetta against Al-Fayed by outrage at having been conned. But he was also convinced that his shareholders had been cheated."<ref name="set-record"/> Rowland felt his shareholders had been cheated as he believed Al-Fayed had used a power of attorney that he held for the [[Sultan of Brunei]], then the richest man in the world, to fund the purchase.<ref name="set-record"/> Rowland's bitterness also came from his belief that Al-Fayed had lied to the British government about the sources of his wealth, and that the government had failed to investigate Al-Fayed's credentials and had approved the sale without a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (while Lonrho had faced three inquiries under the commission), and that the new trade secretary, [[Norman Tebbit]], had prevented Lonrho from bidding while Al-Fayed's deal went through.<ref name="set-record"/>

===Origins of wealth===
To take control of the House of Fraser group, the Al-Fayed brothers had to convince the British government that they possessed sufficient assets to securely purchase the group. The Al-Fayeds invented a spurious family history of old money for themselves. Represented by the investment bankers [[Kleinwort Benson]] and the law firm [[Herbert Smith]], the Al-Fayeds' bankers submitted to the government a one and a half page summary of their assets, which the government accepted.<ref name="maureen-orth"/> The Al-Fayed brothers claimed they were from a family of wealthy cotton traders. Their wealth was estimated by their bankers, Kleinwort Benson, to total "several billion dollars".<ref name="attack-sleaze">{{Cite news|date=26 October 1994|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/the-attack-on-sleaze-mystery-origins-of-brothers-paper-fortune-james-cusick-looks-at-the-revelations-of-the-dti-investigation-into-the-fayed-familys-business-affairs-1444980.html|title=The Attack on Sleaze: Mystery origins of brothers' paper fortune: James Cusick looks at the revelations of the DTI investigation into the Fayed family's business affairs|work=The Independent|location=London}}</ref> A press release by Kleinwort Benson stated that the Al-Fayeds were an "old established Egyptian family who for more than 100 years were ship owners, land owners and industrialists in Egypt." The report said that they were raised in Britain and fled Egypt following the rise to power of [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]].<ref name="maureen-orth"/>

The DTI report came to very different conclusions about the scale of their wealth, stating that; <blockquote> <p>If people had known, for instance, that they only owned one luxury hotel; that their interests in oil exploration consortia were of no current value; that their banking interests consisted of less than 5 percent of the issued share capital of a bank and were worth less than $10 million; that they had no current interests in construction projects: that far from being 'leading shipowners in the liner trade' they only owned two roll-on roll-off 1600 ton cargo ferries; if all these facts had been known people would have been less disposed to believe that the Al-Fayeds really owned the money they were using to buy HOF (House of Fraser)</p>
<p>''1988 DTI report into the background of the Fayed brothers''</p>
<ref name="maureen-orth"/>
</blockquote>

In March 1985 the Al-Fayeds announced a formal cash offer for House of Fraser of £615 million, which Kleinwort claimed was untethered by any borrowings. There has not yet been a comprehensive account of Al-Fayeds finances in 1985, but the DTI report claimed that by October 1984 the Al-Fayeds had at least $600 million in the Royal Bank of Scotland and in a Swiss bank at their disposal.<ref name="maureen-orth"/> "We were not told the source of any of these funds or given a credible story as to how and where they were obtained", said the DTI inspectors.<ref name="maureen-orth"/> The money the Al-Fayeds claimed as their own was apparently used as collateral in order to guarantee a loan of more than £400 million to buy House of Fraser.<ref name="maureen-orth"/>

Al-Fayed told [[Maureen Orth]] in an interview that "If you have a company with tremendous assets like Harrods...you have no problem. You don't need to use cash."<ref name="maureen-orth"/> The first loan, from a Swiss bank, was replaced with another loan secured by House of Fraser shares, the Al-Fayeds had acquired the House of Fraser with none of their own money used to purchase it.<ref name="maureen-orth"/> The Al-Fayeds ownership of Harrods was complete when the British government issued a press release announcing that it would not refer the Al-Fayeds' bid to the [[Monopolies and Mergers Commission]].<ref name="maureen-orth"/>

During the final stages of the Al-Fayeds purchase of Harrods, [[Tiny Rowland]] wrote to the [[Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills|Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]], [[Norman Tebbit]], repudiating the Al-Fayeds story of the origin of their families wealth.<ref name="maureen-orth"/>  Rowland also enlisted the help of [[Ashraf Marwan]], to aid him in his exposing of the Al-Fayeds. ''[[The Observer]]'' newspaper, owned by Rowland, was used to attack the Al-Fayeds. Al-Fayed issued a libel suit against ''The Observer'', and other newspapers critical of the Al-Fayeds were routinely threatened or issued with similar writs. All critical reporting of the Al-Fayeds outside of the ''Observer'' was virtually stopped.<ref name="maureen-orth"/>

===1988 DTI Report===
From 1985 until 1987 Rowland led a worldwide investigation into Al-Fayed and his acquisition of Harrods. He employed accountants and solicitors, private detectives and freelance journalists in an operation, said to cost many millions of pounds, that was beyond the scope of any newspaper inquiry.<ref name="set-record"/> Illicit bugging devices were used and some of the money went in bribes to officials to unearth incriminating documents in Egypt, Haiti, Dubai, Brunei, France and Switzerland, allegedly proving fraudulent dealings by Al-Fayed and showing his humble origins and limited net worth.<ref name="set-record"/>

The results of Rowland's investigations into the Al-Fayeds were given to the Sunday newspaper ''The Observer'', owned by Lonrho. ''The Observer'' campaigned for an inquiry into the House of Fraser purchase, and an inquiry by inspectors from the Department of Trade and Industry was delivered in July 1988, but the DTI declined to publish it. Rowland obtained a copy in 1989, and the report was published in a special free sixteen page edition of ''The Observer'' on a Thursday morning. Publishing the report helped put the DTI inspectors' findings into the public arena, helping ''The Observer''s libel defence, with the aim of pressuring the government into releasing the report.<ref name="set-record"/> Lawyers from the DTI produced a court injunction and ordered all copies of ''The Observer''s version of the report to be handed over or pulped. The report was officially published in 1990.<ref name="set-record"/>

The DTI report said that the Al-Fayed brothers had 'dishonestly represented their origins, their wealth, their business interests and their resources to the Secretary of State, to the Office of Fair Trading, to the House of Fraser board and shareholders, and their own advisers' <ref name="attack-sleaze"/> Rowland and the Lohnro group had previously been strongly criticised by a 1976 DTI report, and had been described by Prime Minister Edward Heath as "an unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism".<ref name="obit-angus">{{Cite news |date=27 December 2004 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1479803/Sir-Angus-Ogilvy.html|title=Obituary: Sir Angus Ogilvy|publisher=The Telegraph|location=London}}</ref>

In 1993 the [[European Court of Human Rights]] dismissed a case brought by Al-Fayed and his brothers against the British Government, which had accused them of misrepresentation in the DTI report. They contended that the report had ruined their reputation and was not subject to appeal.<ref name="suit-fayeds">{{Cite news |date=27 December 2004 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/22/business/suit-by-fayeds-is-dismissed.html|title=Suit by Fayeds is Dismissed | work =  The New York Times}}</ref>

===Ownership of Harrods===
Harrods had entered a steady decline under Hugh Fraser, yet still accounted for half of the House of Fraser group's profits. Determined to restore Harrods' fortunes, Al-Fayed hired Brian Walsh as manager of House of Fraser.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 134.</ref> Walsh created divisions in the company, and more than 200 buyers resigned in the next two years. Following arguments with Al-Fayed, Walsh was fired in October 1987. To calm staff, Al-Fayed distributed envelopes containing £2,000 in cash.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 197.</ref> Following Walsh's departure, Al-Fayed moved his offices onto the fifth floor of Harrods, and took a more hands-on role as chairman of the store.<ref>Bower 1998, p.197.</ref> Walsh was replaced by Michael Ellis-Jones, who was fired after eight weeks.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 204.</ref>
[[File:Harrods (London).jpg|thumb|right|The Harrods Building]]

Christoph Bettermann became the deputy chairman of Harrods in 1990, after having worked for Al-Fayed in Dubai since 1984.<ref name="maureen-orth"/> Bettermann was approached to work in the [[Emirate of Sharjah]], in April 1991, and in June, Bettermann told [[Maureen Orth]], Al-Fayed "showed me a written transcript of a phone conversation between the headhunter and me. He accused me of breaking our trust by talking to these people. I told him, 'If you don't trust me, I resign. I cannot trust you if you bugged my phone.'" Bettermann quit his job at Harrods and went to work for an oil company in Sharjah.<ref name="maureen-orth"/>

Al-Fayed wrote to the ruler of Sharjah, and accused Bettermann of stealing large sums of money.<ref name="maureen-orth"/> Bettermann was cleared by three courts in which Fayed had pressed charges.<ref name="maureen-orth"/>

Al-Fayed delighted in retail theatre, and during his 25 years at Harrods dressed as a Harrods doorman, a boy scout and Father Christmas over the years.<ref name="Bower 1998, p. 236"/> Celebrities were also hired to open the annual Harrods sale, and Harrods sponsored the annual [[Royal Windsor Horse Show]] as it had done since 1982. In 1997 Harrods' sponsorship of the horse show was terminated after Prime Minister [[John Major]] had urged the chairman of the show to find a new sponsor to save Queen [[Elizabeth II]] from association with Al-Fayed.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 449.</ref>

The artist and designer, William Mitchell, was hired by Al-Fayed to create an 'entertaining retail environment'; this resulted in the creation of an Egyptian Hall on the ground floor of Harrods and, following its success, the Egyptian Escalators, which replaced the store's central lifts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.william-mitchell.com/harrods.htm |title=William George Mitchell - Bio |access-date=1 March 2018 |archive-date=1 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301181757/http://www.william-mitchell.com/harrods.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Mitchell also designed memorials for Dodi Fayed and Diana, Princess of Wales at Harrods. Al-Fayed claimed to have invested more than £400 million restoring Harrods, with £20 million<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Elliott |first1=Chris |url= |title=Imhotep Today: Egyptianizing architecture |last2=Griffis-Greenberg |first2=Katherine |last3=Lunn |first3=Richard |date=2016-06-16 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-315-42700-3 |editor-last=Humbert |editor-first=Jean-Marcel |series=Encounters with Ancient Egypt |pages=105–121 |language=en |chapter=Chapter 6: Egypt in London — Entertainment and Commerce in the 20th Century Metropolis |id=[[Google Books]] [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Imhotep_Today/SMVmDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA118&printsec=frontcover SMVmDAAAQBAJ] |quote=The escalators and their accompanying Egyptianesque decoration cost nearly £20 million. |quote-page=118}} Replaces edition of this book produced by Institute of Archaeology, University College London under {{ISBN|1-84472-006-3}} in 2003. Originally published by UCL Press in 2003. First published 2011 by Left Coast Press, Inc.</ref> or £75 million<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davey |first=Jenny |date=May 9, 2010 |title=Fayed leaves Harrods — alive |url=<!-- was http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article7120599.ece with title "Mohamed al-Fayed in £1.5bn Harrods sale" --> |work=The Sunday Times |page=3 of Section 3 "BUSINESS" |publication-place=London, England |issue=9688 |id={{Gale|BDGEJS959533574}}}}</ref> being spent on the Egyptian escalator.

In 1991 the House of Commons Trade and Industry Committee told the [[Governor of the Bank of England]], [[Robin Leigh-Pemberton]] to order the Fayeds to transfer control of the Harrods Bank to trustees, after they found that the Fayeds were not "fit and proper" to run the bank.<ref>Bower 1998, p.283.</ref> Al-Fayed bought his brother, Saleh, out of his interest in Harrods for £100 million in 1994.<ref>Bower 1998, p.323.</ref> In 1994, before [[House of Fraser]] plc was relisted on the [[London Stock Exchange]], Harrods was moved out of the group so that it could remain under the private ownership of Al-Fayed and his family.<ref name =history>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_71300_en.pdf|title=House of Fraser archive project|accessdate=27 September 2024}}</ref>

====Employee relations====
Al-Fayed was concerned by the loyalty of his staff, and employed two young Greek women as spies, to report on their fellow employees.<ref name="Bower 1998, p. 200">Bower 1998, p. 200.</ref> The telephones of the shop workers' trade union, [[USDAW]] were bugged.<ref name="Bower 1998, p. 200"/> Employees were signed to three-month contracts, and were often fired without agreed compensation, and forced to go to an industrial tribunal.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 201.</ref> Al-Fayed also listened in to his employees, and secretly recorded conversations about their sex lives.<ref name="Bower 1998, p. 236">Bower 1998, p. 236.</ref>

Al-Fayed would customarily fire employees who offended his idea of aesthetics, being most offended by overweight staff or black people.<ref>Bower 1998, p.198.</ref> To avoid hiring black people, Harrods required applicants to submit photographs.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.202">Bower 1998, p.202.</ref> The number of black people employed by Harrods was eventually half the number employed by other London stores.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.202"/>

Francesca Bettermann, Harrods former legal counsel, said of Al-Fayed "He likes a pretty face. He wouldn't hire someone who was ugly. He liked them light-skinned, well educated, English, and young...I remember there was something on the application form that said, 'Your colour, race' I said, 'You're not allowed to put that on the form,' and he said, 'Well, make sure they put proper photos in, then.'" <ref name="maureen-orth"/> In 1994 Harrods settled five racial-discrimination cases brought against the company, and, according to trade union officials, between June and September 1994, 23 of the 28 staff fired were black people, who had held mostly menial jobs.<ref name="maureen-orth"/>

A florist was rejected for employment by Harrods because she was black. The chairman of the subsequent industrial tribunal condemned Harrods's defence as 'malicious and dishonest', stating 'there was an act of blatant racial discrimination...by a very senior personnel officer working in a very large organisation...there was lying and deceit on the part of Harrods personnel to conceal the act of discrimination. There was dishonest testimony by Harrods personnel'.<ref>Bower 1998, p.446.</ref>

====Royal warrants====
In August 2010, in a letter to the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'', Al-Fayed revealed that he had burnt Harrods's [[Royal Warrant of Appointment (United Kingdom)|royal warrants]], after taking them down in 2000. Harrods had held the Royal warrants since 1910. Describing the warrants as a "curse", Al-Fayed claimed that business had tripled since their removal. The [[Duke of Edinburgh]] removed his warrant in January 2000,<ref name="TelegJun11">{{Cite news|last=Mendick|first=Robert|date=26 June 2011|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/diana/8598896/Anger-as-Mohammed-Fayed-burns-Harrods-royal-warrants.html|title=Anger as Mohamed Fayed burns Harrods royal warrants|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|access-date=22 September 2024|archive-date=13 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313133229/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/diana/8598896/Anger-as-Mohammed-Fayed-burns-Harrods-royal-warrants.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the other warrants were removed from Harrods by Al-Fayed in December, pending their five-yearly review. The Duke of Edinburgh had been banned from Harrods by Al-Fayed.<ref name="everything-must">{{Cite news |date=23 December 2000|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1379216/Everything-must-go-as-Harrods-cuts-royal-links.html|title=Everything must go as Harrods cuts royal links|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|first=Robert|last=Hardman}}</ref> Film of the burning of the warrants in 2009 was shown in the final scene of ''Unlawful Killing'', a film funded by Al-Fayed and directed by [[Keith Allen (actor)|Keith Allen]].<ref name="TelegJun11"/>

====Sale of Harrods====
After denials that it was for sale, Harrods was sold to [[Qatar Holdings]], the [[sovereign wealth fund]] of the emirate of [[Qatar]] in May 2010.<ref name="IndependentMay10">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/qatar-the-tiny-gulf-state-that-bought-the-world-1970551.html |title=Qatar, the tiny Gulf state that bought the world. |publisher=Independent |date=10 May 2010 |accessdate=22 September 2024|location=London}}</ref> A spokesman for Al-Fayed said "in reaching the decision to retire, (Al-Fayed) wished to ensure that the legacy and traditions that he has built up in Harrods would be continued." Harrods was sold for £1.5 billion.<ref name="Guardian 2010-05-10">{{cite news|last=Sutherland|first=Ruth|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/may/08/mohammed-al-fayed-harrods-sold-qatar|title=Harrods sold for £1.5bn as Mohamed Al Fayed retires|date=8 May 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=22 September 2024}}</ref>

Al-Fayed later said that he decided to sell Harrods following the difficulty in getting his [[dividend]] approved by the trustee of the Harrods pension fund. Fayed said "I'm here every day, I can't take my profit because I have to take a permission of those bloody idiots...I say is this right? Is this logic? Somebody like me? I run a business and I need to take bloody fucking trustee's permission to take my profit".<ref name="ESMay10">{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/mohamed-fayed-why-i-sold-harrods-6473745.html |title=Mohammed Fayed: Why I Sold Harrods |first=Sam |last=Leith |newspaper=[[Evening Standard]] |date=26 May 2010 |access-date=22 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701144627/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23838358-a-four-letter-farewell-from-mohammed-fayed.do|archive-date=1 July 2010}}</ref> Al-Fayed was appointed honorary chairman of Harrods, for six months.<ref name="ESMay10" />
[[File:Harrods London (1).jpg|thumb|The Brompton Road frontage of [[Harrods]] in 2022]]

===Scotland real estate===
In 1972 Fayed purchased the Balnagown estate in [[Easter Ross]] in northern Scotland. From an initial {{convert|4.8|ha|acre|abbr=off}}, Al-Fayed went on to build the estate up to {{convert|26300|ha|acre|abbr=off}}.<ref name="highland-jetset">{{cite news |date=4 July 2005 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/alfayed-to-fill-highland-estate-with-jetset-homes-497551.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906054019/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/alfayed-to-fill-highland-estate-with-jetset-homes-497551.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 September 2012 |title=Al-Fayed to fill Highland estate with jet-set homes |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |location=London |first=Paul |last=Kelbie |url-access=registration}}</ref> He invested more than £20&nbsp;million in the estate, restored the 14th-century pink [[Balnagown Castle]], and created a tourist accommodation business.<ref name="highland-jetset"/> The Highlands of Scotland tourist board awarded Al-Fayed the Freedom of the [[Scottish Highlands]] in 2002, in recognition of his "efforts to promote the area".<ref>{{cite web |title=Highlands freedom for al-Fayed |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2536895.stm |work=BBC News|access-date=3 September 2023|date=3 December 2002|archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005154117/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2536895.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

As an Egyptian with links to Scotland, Al-Fayed funded a 2008 reprint of the 15th-century chronicle ''[[Scotichronicon]]'' by [[Walter Bower]]. The ''Scotichronicon'' describes how [[Scota]], a daughter of an Egyptian Pharaoh, fled her family and landed in Scotland, bringing with her the [[Stone of Scone]]. According to the chronicle, Scotland was later named in her honour. The tale is disputed by modern historians.<ref name="fayed-princess">{{Cite news |date=19 May 2008 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article3965279.ece |title=Al Fayed, a Princess and another theory the establishment denies |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |first=Mike |last=Wade |access-date=28 March 2012 |archive-date=8 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008020025/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article3965279.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> Al-Fayed later declared that "The Scots are originally Egyptians and that's the truth."<ref name="make-ruler">{{Cite news |date=25 October 2009 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6889088.ece |title=Forget Salmond: Make me your ruler |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |first=Marc |last=Horne |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 March 2012 |archive-date=13 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813144904/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6889088.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2009 Al-Fayed revealed that he was a supporter of [[Scottish independence]] from the United Kingdom, announcing to the Scots that "It's time for you to waken up and detach yourselves from the English and their terrible politicians...whatever help is needed for Scotland to regain its independence, I will provide it...when you Scots regain your freedom, I am ready to be your president."<ref name="make-ruler"/>

===Charity===
Fayed set up the Al Fayed Charitable Foundation in 1987 aiming to help children with life-limiting conditions and children living in poverty. The charity works mainly with charities and hospices for disabled and neglected children in the UK, Thailand, and Mongolia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-acf.com/who-we-are.aspx|title=Who we are |website=The AlFayed Charitable Foundation |access-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011233339/http://www.the-acf.com/who-we-are.aspx|archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It works with charities including Francis House Hospice in Manchester, [[Great Ormond Street Hospital]], and [[ChildLine]]. In September 1997, West Heath School in [[Sevenoaks]], Kent, United Kingdom, was placed into receivership. West Heath was the former school of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]. Al-Fayed bought the school for £2.5 million in May 1998 and it became the new premises for the Beth Marie Centre for Traumatised Children, which had previously been based in Sevenoaks. The school reopened as [[The New School at West Heath]] in September 1998.<ref name="BBCMay98">{{Cite news |date=20 May 1998 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/97667.stm|title=Al Fayed buys Diana's school|publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/charitable-side-mohamed-al-fayed/article/620770 |title=The charitable side of ... Mohamed Al Fayed |work=The Third Sector |date=11 January 2006 |first=Gemma |last=Ware |publisher=Haymarket Media Group |access-date=28 June 2013 |archive-date=8 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408175415/http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/charitable-side-mohamed-al-fayed/article/620770 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011 Mohamed Al-Fayed's daughter Camilla, who had worked as an ambassador for the charity for eight years,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/heiress-camilla-al-fayed-liverpool-3010791 |title=Heiress Camilla Al Fayed on why Liverpool babies' hospice Zoe's Place is an inspiration |newspaper=[[Liverpool Echo]] |access-date=28 June 2013 |first=Dawn |last=Collinson |date=27 March 2013 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233644/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/heiress-camilla-al-fayed-liverpool-3010791 |url-status=live }}</ref> opened the newly refurbished Zoe's Place baby hospice in [[West Derby]], Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/09/09/camilla-al-fayed-opens-newly-refurbished-zoe-s-place-baby-hospice-in-west-derby-99623-29389925/ |title=Camilla Al Fayed opens newly refurbished Zoe's Place baby hospice in West Derby |work=[[Liverpool Daily Post]] |access-date=28 June 2013 |archive-date=3 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403043703/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Fulham F.C.===
{{Main|Fulham F.C.#1997–2001: Al-Fayed takeover}}

Al-Fayed bought west London professional football club [[Fulham F.C.]] for £6.75&nbsp;million in 1997.<ref name="fulham-pushed">{{Cite news|date=7 February 2003 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2395783/Fulham-pushed-out-Hill.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2395783/Fulham-pushed-out-Hill.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Fulham pushed out Hill |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Mihir |last=Bose}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The purchase was made via Bill Muddyman's Muddyman Group.<ref name="fulham-pushed"/> His long-term aim was that Fulham would become a [[Premier League]] side within five years. In the 2000–01 season, Fulham won the [[2000–2001 Football League#First Division|First Division]] under manager [[Jean Tigana]], winning 101 points and scoring 90 goals, and were promoted to the Premier League. This meant that Al-Fayed had achieved his Premier League aim a year ahead of schedule.<ref name="mirror23">{{cite web |last1=Polden |first1=Jake |title=Mohamed Al Fayed: Owner who promised Fulham fans Man Utd dreams and offered stars Viagra |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mohamed-al-fayed-offered-fulham-30845175 |website=Daily Mirror |access-date=3 September 2023 |date=1 September 2023 |archive-date=2 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902124353/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mohamed-al-fayed-offered-fulham-30845175 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2002, Fulham were competing in European football, winning the [[Intertoto Cup]] and participating in the [[UEFA Cup]]. Fulham reached the [[2010 UEFA Europa League final]], which they lost to [[Atletico Madrid]],<ref name="mirror23" /> and continued to play in the Premier League throughout Al-Fayed's tenure as owner, which ended in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fulham's relegation and the curse of Michael Jackson's statue |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-27310805 |website=BBC News |access-date=3 September 2023 |date=7 May 2014 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903145911/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-27310805 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Fulham temporarily left [[Craven Cottage]] while it was being upgraded to meet modern safety standards. There were fears that the club would not return to the Cottage after it was revealed that Al-Fayed had sold the first right to build on the ground to a property development firm.<ref name="future-hangs">{{cite news |title=Fulham's future hangs in balance |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/3084328.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=15 September 2003 |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112222617/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/3084328.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Al Fayed congratulates Brian McBride.jpg|thumb|Al-Fayed congratulating [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] goalscorer [[Brian McBride]] in May 2008]]
Fulham lost a legal case against former manager Tigana in 2004 after Al-Fayed had wrongly alleged that Tigana had overpaid more than £7m for new players and had negotiated transfers in secret.<ref name="fulham-lose">{{cite news |title=Fulham lose Tigana court battle |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/4005735.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 November 2004 |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328073352/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/4005735.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, Al-Fayed said that he was in favour of a wage cap for footballers, and criticised the management of [[The Football Association]] and [[Premier League]] as "run by donkeys who don't understand business, who are dazzled by money."<ref name="sport-quotes">{{Cite news |date=29 April 2009 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/8024421.stm |title=Sport quotes of the week |work=BBC Sport |first=Chris |last=Charles |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=30 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130184955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/8024421.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Fulham statue of Michael Jackson|A statue of the American entertainer]] [[Michael Jackson]] was unveiled by Al-Fayed in April 2011 at Craven Cottage. In 1999 Jackson had attended a league game against [[Wigan Athletic]] at the stadium. Following criticism of the statue, Al-Fayed said "If some stupid fans don't understand and appreciate such a gift this guy gave to the world they can go to hell. I don't want them to be fans."<ref name="jackson-fulham">{{cite news|date=3 April 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12950708|title=Michael Jackson Fulham FC statue defended by Al Fayed|work=BBC News|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=25 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525184513/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12950708|url-status=live}}</ref> The statue was taken down by the club's new owners in 2013; Al-Fayed blamed the club's subsequent relegation from the Premier League on the 'bad luck' brought by its removal. Al-Fayed then donated the statue to the [[National Football Museum]].<ref name="Jackson statue moves to National Football Museum">{{cite news|date=6 May 2014|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27302594|title=Michael Jackson statue moves to National Football Museum|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922021024/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27302594|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2019, the statue was removed from the museum, with a spokesperson saying it had been planned for "several months" to introduce exhibits that "better represent" football; the removal followed accusations of child sexual abuse by Jackson in the documentary ''[[Leaving Neverland]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-47468074 |title=Michael Jackson statue: National Football Museum removes artwork |work=[[BBC News]] |date=6 March 2019 |access-date=27 January 2020 |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128223317/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-47468074 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Under Al-Fayed Fulham F.C. was owned by Mafco Holdings, based in the [[tax haven]] of [[Bermuda]] and in turn owned by Al-Fayed and his family. By 2011, Al-Fayed had lent Fulham F.C. £187&nbsp;million in interest free loans.<ref name="record-losses">{{Cite news |date=19 May 2010 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/19/premier-league-finances-black-hole |title=Record income but record losses for Premier League |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |first=David |last=Conn |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=1 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201173253/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/19/premier-league-finances-black-hole |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2013, it was announced that Al-Fayed had sold the club to Pakistani American businessman [[Shahid Khan]], who owns the [[NFL]]'s [[Jacksonville Jaguars]].<ref name="Fulham Sold">{{cite news |title=Al-Fayed sells Fulham to Shahid Khan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23297785 |work=BBC Sport |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=12 February 2018 |archive-date=1 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001013222/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23297785 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5784727/2024/09/23/fulham-mohamed-al-fayed/|title=Fulham, Mohamed Al Fayed and the 'legacy of a man who was really a monster'|work=The New York Times |last1=Rutzler |first1=Peter |date=23 September 2024 }}</ref>

==Business interests==
[[File:75 Rockefeller Plaza by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[75 Rockefeller Plaza]], New York]]

Al-Fayed's business interests included:

* [[Balnagowan Castle]] & Estates, [[Scottish Highlands]]<ref name="Balnagown Estate 2022">{{cite web | title=Our History | website=Balnagown Estate | date=26 May 2022 | url=https://www.balnagown.com/about-balnagown/our-history/ | access-date=2 September 2023 | archive-date=2 September 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902122611/https://www.balnagown.com/about-balnagown/our-history/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[75 Rockefeller Plaza]], New York City – built in 1947, originally the Esso Building, later the Time Warner Building; owned by Al-Fayed<ref>{{cite web |url=https://therealdeal.com/blog/2012/01/25/75-rockefeller-plaza-needs-tenants-manager-in-2014/ |title=75 Rockefeller Plaza – Time Warner Lease – Mohamed Al-Fayed |date=25 January 2012 |work=The Real Deal New York |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414195517/http://therealdeal.com/blog/2012/01/25/75-rockefeller-plaza-needs-tenants-manager-in-2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and managed and leased by [[RXR Realty]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-14/rxr-said-to-buy-99-year-leasehold-at-75-rockefeller-plaza|title=RXR Said to Buy 99-Year Leasehold at 75 Rockefeller Plaza|first=David M.|last=Levitt|date=15 January 2013|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=10 March 2017|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124230/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-14/rxr-said-to-buy-99-year-leasehold-at-75-rockefeller-plaza|url-status=live}}</ref>

His major business purchases included:

* House of Fraser Group, including [[Harrods]] (1985, £615&nbsp;million; sold 2010, £1.5&nbsp;billion)<ref name="BBC 2010-05-08">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8669657.stm |title=Mohammed Fayed sells Harrods store to Qatar Holdings |date=8 May 2010 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 May 2010 |archive-date=11 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811220505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8669657.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Fulham Football Club]] (1997, £30&nbsp;million;<ref name="Al Fayed Story"/> sold 2013 for between £150 and £200&nbsp;million<ref name="Fulham Sold"/>)
* After the death of [[Wallis Simpson]], Fayed took over the lease of the [[Villa Windsor]] in Paris, the former home of the Duchess of Windsor and her husband, the Duke of Windsor, previously [[Edward VIII]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 January 1990 |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20116503,00.html |title=Egypt's Al Fayed Restores the House Fit for a Former King |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=2 December 2012 |archive-date=5 May 2012 |first1=Joyce |last1=Wadler |first2=Fred |last2=Hauptfuhrer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505214013/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20116503,00.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Together with his valet [[Sydney Johnson (servant)|Sydney Johnson]], who had also been valet to the Duke, he organised the restoration of the villa and its collections.<ref name="NYTimes 1986-12-25">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/25/garden/windsor-s-paris-home-to-become-museum.html |title=Windsor's Paris Home to Become Museum |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=25 December 1986 |access-date=12 November 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403043705/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/25/garden/windsor-s-paris-home-to-become-museum.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Media interests===
In 1996 Al-Fayed established Liberty Publishing, with the goal of the company stated as "to launch and acquire or take strategic interests in significant media businesses".<ref name="fayed-publishing">{{Cite news|date=1 March 1996|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/news-al-fayed-sets-uk-publishing-arm-names-punch-editor/15918|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921165915/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/news-al-fayed-sets-uk-publishing-arm-names-punch-editor/15918|archive-date=21 September 2024|title=NEWS: Al-Fayed sets up UK publishing arm and names Punch editor|publisher=[[Campaign (magazine)|Campaign]]|access-date=21 September 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

The chairman of Liberty Publishing was [[Stewart Steven]], the former editor of the ''[[Evening Standard]]'', with John Dux the chief executive, a former managing director of [[News International]].<ref name="fayed-publishing"/> Al-Fayed had failed in bids to buy the newspaper ''[[Today (UK newspaper)|Today]]'' from [[Lonmin|Lonrho]] in 1986 and from [[News International]] in 1995. Al-Fayed believed that the British government had put pressure on [[Rupert Murdoch]], CEO of News International not to sell the newspaper to him.<ref name="Bower 1998, p. 374">Bower 1998, p. 374.</ref> [[Andrew Neil]] was recruited by Liberty Publishing, and helped agree a £4 million takeover of [[LBC#London News Radio|London News Radio]]. The takeover later collapsed.<ref name="Bower 1998, p. 374"/>

Steven dined with [[Hugo Young]], chairman of the [[Scott Trust]] at the [[Garrick Club]], and offered a cheque for £17 million from Al-Fayed for ''[[The Observer]]'' newspaper. Young declined this offer, and another of £25 million.<ref name="Bower 1998, p. 376">Bower 1998, p. 376.</ref> A women-only radio station, Viva Radio, was bought for £3 million in May 1996.<ref name="Bower 1998, p. 376"/> Viva Radio was renamed [[Liberty Radio]], and broadcast commentaries of [[Fulham F.C.]]'s home and away games. The station was sold to [[UCKG]] in 2000. Due to debts of £6.5 million, Liberty Publishing was wound down by Al-Fayed's brother, Ali, in 1996. Steven, Dux and Mike Hollingsworth were fired, but Andrew Neil was retained as a consultant.<ref>Bower 1998, p. 408.</ref>

===Property===
Al-Fayed owned 55 and 60 [[Park Lane]], and a building on South Street, [[Mayfair]]. All three buildings were secretly connected to the [[Dorchester Hotel]], which Al-Fayed purchased for [[Hassanal Bolkiah]], the [[Sultan of Brunei]].<ref name="maureen-orth"/>

In 1995 [[Westminster City Council]] believed that Hyde Park Residences, the company letting 170 luxury flats at 55 and 60 Park Lane, had been wrongly reporting the flats as let on long leases to avoid paying higher business rates due on short tenancies.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.368">Bower 1998, p.368.</ref> The council demanded an additional £1.1 million, and Al-Fayed believed that the letting agent, Sandra Lewis-Glass had betrayed his confidence to the council.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.368"/> After bugging Lewis-Glass's telephone calls and placing her under surveillance, John McNamara, the head of Al-Fayed's security and a former [[Metropolitan Police]] officer, alleged to police that she had stolen two floppy disks worth 80 pence.<ref>Bower 1998, p.369.</ref> Denying the accusation, Lewis-Glass was released without charge, and later sued for wrongful dismissal, winning £13,500.<ref>Bower 1998, p.386.</ref>

In the early 1970s Al-Fayed purchased the Castle St. Therese in the Parc de St Tropez on the [[French Riviera]],<ref name="Bower 1998, p.43">Bower 1998, p.43.</ref> a chalet in [[Gstaad]], Switzerland,<ref name="Bower 1998, p.39"/> and [[Barrow Green Court]] and farm, near [[Oxted]], Surrey.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.43"/>

In ''[[Bocardo SA v Star Energy UK]]'' the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]] denied Al-Fayed compensation after an energy company, Star Energy, had drilled for oil under his Surrey estate. Al-Fayed originally won a share of the oil proceeds at the High Court, but was later told by appeal judges he could only claim damages.<ref name="damages-fight">{{Cite news |date=28 July 2010|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-10791702|title=Al Fayed loses damages in fight over Oxted oil field|work=BBC News}}</ref> Bocardo SA was a company owned by Al-Fayed that owned his estates in Scotland and Surrey; it was based in [[Liechtenstein]].<ref name="NewStatesman99">{{Cite news|last=Rosie|first=George|date=13 December 1999|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/199912130025|title=Who are the lairds lording over us?|work=[[New Statesman]]|access-date=21 September 2024|archive-date=26 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126140332/http://www.newstatesman.com/199912130025|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Fayed was married from 1954 to 1956 to [[Samira Khashoggi]]. He worked with his brother-in-law, Saudi Arabian arms dealer and businessman [[Adnan Khashoggi]].<ref name="Independent20071006" /> In 1985, Fayed married the Finnish socialite and former model [[Heini Wathén]], with whom he had four children, including [[Omar Fayed|Omar]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harries |first=Rhiannon |date=21 September 2008 |title=Daddy's girl: Mohamed al-Fayed's daughter Jasmine is gaining a reputation as a hot young designer |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/daddys-girl-mohamed-alfayeds-daughter-jasmine-is-gaining-a-reputation-as-a-hot-young-designer-934945.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412141544/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/daddys-girl-mohamed-alfayeds-daughter-jasmine-is-gaining-a-reputation-as-a-hot-young-designer-934945.html |archive-date=12 April 2010 |access-date=5 September 2023 |newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Curtis |first=Nick |title=Camilla Fayed: My upbringing? Let's say my normal is not your normal |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/camilla-fayed-my-upbringing-was-definitely-weird-and-wonderful-7bcgl8p9l |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127061919/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/camilla-fayed-my-upbringing-was-definitely-weird-and-wonderful-7bcgl8p9l |archive-date=27 November 2022 |access-date=5 September 2023 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2012 |title=Karim Fayed: The sound engineer |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/health/karim-fayed-the-sound-engineer-6794119.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906081019/https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/health/karim-fayed-the-sound-engineer-6794119.html |archive-date=6 September 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023 |language=en |newspaper=[[Evening Standard]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Isaac |first=Anna |date=3 April 2017 |title=Omar Fayed: 'I didn't want to become Mr Harrods' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/connect/small-business/omar-fayed-environmental-impact-as-important-as-business-bottom-line/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127062213/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/connect/small-business/omar-fayed-environmental-impact-as-important-as-business-bottom-line/ |archive-date=27 November 2022 |access-date=5 September 2023 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

Sometime in the early 1970s, he began using the prefix [[Arabic name#Dynastic or family name|''al-'']] ({{langx|ar|ال}}) in his name, rendering his name in English as "al-Fayed" rather than simply "Fayed".<ref name="Independent20071006" /> In Arabic names, the word ''al-'', in conjunction with the name of an ancestor, means ''family of'' or ''House of''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wynbrandt |first=James |url=https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofsa0000wynb/page/ |title=A Brief History of Saudi Arabia |author2=Gerges, Fawaz A. |publisher=Infobase |year=2010 |isbn=978-0816078769 |page=[https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofsa0000wynb/page/ xvii]}}</ref> This aristocratic prefix<ref name="Independent20071006" /> led to ''[[Private Eye]]'' magazine nicknaming him the "Phoney Pharaoh".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tyler |first1=Richard |last2=Mendick |first2=Robert |date=8 May 2010 |title=£1.5bn change in store at Harrods |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/7697397/1.5bn-change-in-store-at-Harrods.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/7697397/1.5bn-change-in-store-at-Harrods.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=19 June 2013 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His brothers Ali and Salah followed suit at the time of their acquisition of the [[House of Fraser]] in the 1980s, though by the late 1980s, both had backtracked on the practice.<ref>{{harvnb|Brooke & Aldous|1988|p=619}}</ref>

[[Max Hastings]], the former editor of the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'', wrote that Al-Fayed had "harried" [[Conrad Black]], the former owner of the ''Daily Telegraph'', "in pursuit of his demand to be referred to in our newspaper as "Al Fayed". I sent the chairman a note, explaining that this was a long-running saga: "The Fayeds have been seeking for years to call themselves Al Fayed, just as a socially ambitious Frenchman might seek to style himself de Fayed, or a German von Fayed ... At one level, it is harmless if the Fayeds wish to call themselves kings of Sheba, but I always feel determined to demonstrate that we will not be threatened."<ref name="citizen-black">{{Cite news |last=Hastings |first=Max |date=7 October 2002 |title=Citizen Black |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/oct/07/mondaymediasection.bookextracts?INTCMP=SRCH |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref>

=== Death of Dodi Fayed ===
{{Further|Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|Conspiracy theories about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales}}

==== Background and relationship with Princess Diana ====
[[Lady Diana Spencer]] married [[Charles III|Charles]], Prince of Wales, then [[heir apparent]] to the [[British throne]] in 1981, becoming [[Princess of Wales]]. She was an international celebrity and a frequent visitor to Harrods in the 1980s. Al-Fayed and Dodi first met Diana and Charles in July 1986 when they were introduced at a [[polo]] tournament sponsored by Harrods.<ref name = HighBeam1>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/08/31/dianas-life-on-display-sometimes-storybook-sometimes-soap-opera/4398f8d1-48d0-42e5-b815-05be80c240f7/ |title=Diana's Life on Display: Sometimes Storybook, Sometimes Soap Opera |first=David |last=van Drehle |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=31 August 1997 |access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>

Diana and Charles divorced in 1996. She was hosted by Al-Fayed in the [[south of France]] in mid-1997, with her sons, Princes [[William, Prince of Wales|William]] and [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex|Harry]].<ref name = HighBeam2>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13112834.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924184420/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13112834.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=Coroner at Diana inquest dismisses all the conspiracy theories over fatal car crash Mohamed al-Fayed expresses surprise over the tone and content of remarks he says should be left to the jury to consider |first=Stephen |last=McGinty |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=3 October 2007 |access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref> For the holiday, Fayed bought a 195&nbsp;ft yacht, the ''[[Sokar (yacht)|Jonikal]]'' (later renamed the ''Sokar'').<ref name="Vanity Fair 2008-05">{{cite magazine |date=19 May 2010 |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/05/dunne200805 |title=Two Ladies, Two Yachts, and a Billionaire |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |location=New York |first=Dominick |last=Dunne |access-date=11 October 2013 |author-link=Dominick Dunne |archive-date=13 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013012757/http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/05/dunne200805 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dodi and Diana later began a private cruise on the ''Jonikal'' and paparazzi photographs of the couple in an embrace were published. Diana's friend, the journalist Richard Kay, confirmed that Diana was involved in "her first serious romance" since her divorce.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4409051.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194339/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4409051.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=Di and Dodi's short summer |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=7 September 1997|access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>

Dodi and Diana went on a second private cruise on the ''Jonikal'' in the third week of August, and returned from [[Sardinia]] to Paris on 30 August. Later that day, the couple privately dined at the Ritz, after the behaviour of the press caused them to cancel a restaurant reservation. They planned to spend the night at Dodi's apartment near the [[Arc de Triomphe]].<ref name="bbc-final">{{Cite news |date=14 December 2006 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6219252.stm |title=Diana and Dodi: Their final hours |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403043705/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6219252.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In an attempt to deceive the [[paparazzi]], a decoy car left the front of the hotel, while Diana and Dodi departed from the rear of the hotel in a Mercedes-Benz S280 driven by concierge Henri Paul.<ref name="bbc-final"/> Five minutes later, the car crashed in the [[Pont de l'Alma]] tunnel. Dodi and Paul were killed; Diana died later in hospital. British bodyguard [[Trevor Rees-Jones (bodyguard)|Trevor Rees-Jones]], who sustained a serious head injury, was the sole survivor of the crash. Fayed arrived in Paris a day later and viewed Dodi's body, which was returned to the United Kingdom for an [[Islamic funeral]].<ref name="bbc-final"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64636402.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131013221726/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64636402.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2013|title=Fayed Is Buried After Quiet Islamic Tribute |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=1 September 1997 |access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>

==== Conspiracy theories ====
From February 1998, Al-Fayed maintained that the crash was a result of a conspiracy,<ref name="diana-crash">{{Cite news |date=12 February 1998 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55800.stm |title=Diana crash was a conspiracy – Al Fayed |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107032400/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55800.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and later contended that the crash was orchestrated by [[MI6]] on the instructions of [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]].<ref name="point-claims">{{Cite news |date=19 February 1998 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55800.stm |title=Point-by-point: Al Fayed's claims |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107032400/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55800.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> His claims were dismissed by a French judicial investigation, but Fayed appealed the verdict.<ref>{{cite news |title=France closes Diana investigation |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/04/04/diana.investigation/index.html |access-date=3 September 2023 |work=CNN World |date=4 April 2002 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903151555/https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/04/04/diana.investigation/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fayed risks huge lawsuit with appeal against Diana verdict |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/sep/05/monarchy.theobserver |access-date=3 September 2023 |work=The Observer |date=5 September 1999 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903151555/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/sep/05/monarchy.theobserver |url-status=live }}</ref>

The British [[Operation Paget]], a [[Metropolitan police]] inquiry that concluded in 2006, also found no evidence of a conspiracy.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 December 2006|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6179275.stm|title=Diana death a 'tragic accident'|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=13 November 2022|archive-date=13 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113134134/https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6179275.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> To Operation Paget, Al-Fayed made 175 "conspiracy claims".<ref>{{cite news |first=Martyn |last=Gregory |date=7 October 2007 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/martyn-gregory-alfayed-cant-rewrite-the-death-of-diana-394391.html |url-access=registration |title=Al-Fayed can't rewrite the death of Diana |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920234101/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/martyn-gregory-alfayed-cant-rewrite-the-death-of-diana-394391.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

An inquest headed by [[Lord Justice Scott Baker]] into the deaths of Diana and Dodi began at the [[Royal Courts of Justice]], London, on 2 October 2007 and lasted for six months. It was a continuation of the original inquest that had begun in 2004.<ref name="inquests">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk/faq/index.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080521144222/http://www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk/faq/index.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=21 May 2008 |title=Inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed: FAQs |access-date=4 June 2010 |year=2008 |work=Coroner's Inquests into the Deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed |publisher=Judicial Communications Office}}</ref>

At the Scott Baker inquest, Fayed accused the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, [[Lady Sarah McCorquodale]], her sister, and numerous others, of plotting to kill the Princess of Wales.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Bates |date=19 February 2008 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/19/diana.monarchy |title=They're all guilty? 'Definitely.' Fayed gets his day in court |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=27 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127153619/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/19/diana.monarchy |url-status=live }}</ref> Their motive, he claimed, was that they could not tolerate the idea of the Princess marrying a [[Muslim]].<ref name="The Guardian 2008-04-07">{{cite news |first=Angela |last=Balakrishnan |date=7 April 2008 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/07/diana.monarchy1 |title=Pregnancy rumours, MI6 plots and Henri Paul |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226014432/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/07/diana.monarchy1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Al-Fayed first claimed that the Princess was pregnant to the ''[[Daily Express]]'' in May 2001,<ref name="The Guardian 2008-04-07" /> and that he was the only person who had been told. Witnesses at the inquest who said the Princess was not pregnant, and could not have been, were part of the conspiracy according to Al-Fayed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7250002.stm |title=Diana murdered, Al Fayed claims |work=[[BBC News]] |date=18 February 2008 |access-date=13 October 2013 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227175316/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7250002.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Fayed's testimony at the inquest was roundly condemned in the press as farcical. Members of the British Government's [[Intelligence and Security Committee]] accused Fayed of turning the inquest into a 'circus' and called for it to be ended prematurely.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7256665.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Coroner warning in Diana inquest |date=21 February 2008 |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113134150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7256665.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Lawyers representing Al-Fayed later accepted at the inquest that there was no direct evidence that either the Duke of Edinburgh or MI6 were involved in any murder conspiracy involving Diana or Dodi.<ref name="fayed-collapses">{{Cite news |date=7 April 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7326311.stm |title=Fayed conspiracy claim collapses |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224070925/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7326311.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> A few days before Al-Fayed's appearance, John MacNamara, a former senior detective at [[Scotland Yard]] and Al-Fayed's investigator for five years from 1997, was forced to admit on 14 February 2008 that he had no evidence to suggest foul play, except for the assertions Al-Fayed had made to him.<ref name="The Guardian 2008-02-15">{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Bates |date=15 February 2008 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/15/monarchy |title=Diana conspiracy theory unravels as Fayed's investigator tells of lies and lack of evidence |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015231543/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/15/monarchy |url-status=live }}</ref> His admissions also related to the lack of evidence for Al-Fayed's claims of the Princess's pregnancy and the couple's engagement.<ref name="The Guardian 2008-02-15"/>

The jury verdict, given on 7 April 2008, was that Diana and Dodi were "[[unlawfully killed]]" through the [[grossly negligent]] driving of Henri Paul,<ref name="verdict">{{cite web| url=http://www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk/hearing_transcripts/verdict.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080521144222/http://www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk/hearing_transcripts/verdict.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=21 May 2008 |title=Hearing transcripts: 7&nbsp;April 2008 – Verdict of the jury |publisher=Judicial Communications Office |access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref> who was [[drunk]], and the pursuing vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Diana jury blames paparazzi and Henri Paul for her 'unlawful killing' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584160/Diana-jury-blames-paparazzi-and-Henri-Paul-for-her-unlawful-killing.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584160/Diana-jury-blames-paparazzi-and-Henri-Paul-for-her-unlawful-killing.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=7 April 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Al-Fayed's lawyers accepted that there was no evidence to support the assertion that Diana was illegally embalmed to conceal pregnancy, or that a pregnancy could be confirmed by any medical evidence.<ref name="fayed-collapses"/> They also accepted that there was no evidence to support the assertion that the French emergency and medical services had played any role in a conspiracy to harm Diana.<ref name="fayed-collapses"/> Following the Baker inquest, Al-Fayed said that he was abandoning his conspiracy campaign, and would accept the jury's verdict.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 April 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7337789.stm |title=Al Fayed abandons Diana campaign |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115071543/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7337789.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Journalist [[Dominic Lawson]] wrote in ''[[The Independent]]'' in 2008 that Al-Fayed sought to concoct "a conspiracy to cover up the true circumstances" of fatalities caused by the crash "involving an intoxicated and over-excited driver (an employee of Mohamed Fayed's Paris Ritz)". He "had remarkable success in persuading elements of the tabloid press, notably the ''Daily Express'', to give the conspiracy a fair wind."<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawson |first=Dominic |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-lawson-the-only-conspiracy-over-diana-s-death-was-fayed-s-bid-to-manipulate-the-british-public-804548.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-lawson-the-only-conspiracy-over-diana-s-death-was-fayed-s-bid-to-manipulate-the-british-public-804548.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |title=The only conspiracy over Diana's death was Fayed's bid to manipulate the British public |work=The Independent |date=4 April 2008|access-date=19 December 2021}}</ref>

Al-Fayed financially supported ''[[Unlawful Killing (film)|Unlawful Killing]]'' (2011), a documentary film presenting his version of events.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/cannes-film-festival/8513112/Unlawful-Killing-film-about-the-death-of-Diana-likens-Prince-Philip-to-Fred-West.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/cannes-film-festival/8513112/Unlawful-Killing-film-about-the-death-of-Diana-likens-Prince-Philip-to-Fred-West.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Unlawful Killing: film about the death of Diana likens Prince Philip to Fred West |access-date=11 May 2011 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Anita |last=Singh |date=13 May 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was not formally released because of the potential for libel suits.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Child |date=5 July 2012 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/05/princess-diana-documentary-unlawful-killing |title=Princess Diana documentary Unlawful Killing is shelved |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428102216/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/05/princess-diana-documentary-unlawful-killing |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Nationality ===
Al-Fayed was born an Egyptian citizen, entered [[Haiti]] on a Kuwaiti passport, and left Haiti with a Haitian [[diplomatic passport]] with which he entered the United Kingdom in 1964. In 1970 Al-Fayed informed [[Mahdi Al Tajir]] that he and his brothers' Haitian diplomatic passports had expired, and their Egyptian passports made it difficult for them to obtain visas in many countries.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.40">Bower 1998, p.40.</ref> Tajir secured Emirati passports for Al-Fayed, but not Emirati nationality.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.40" /> On the passport documents Al-Fayed had his date of birth changed from 1929 to 1933, making himself four years younger.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.40" /> His two brothers reduced their ages by ten years on their new passports.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.40" />

The rulers of Dubai, the [[Al Maktoum]] family, had refused to renew the Fayeds' passports in 1993, and so they reverted to travelling on their original Egyptian passports. Mohamed and Ali Al-Fayed applied for [[British citizen#Acquisition of British citizenship|British citizenship]] in early 1993. Ali's application was supported by [[Gordon Reece]] and [[Peter Hordern (politician)|Peter Hordern]], and Mohamed's by [[Edwin Bramall, Baron Bramall|Lord Bramall]] and [[Jeffrey Archer]].<ref>Bower 1998, p.304.</ref> The Al-Fayed brothers' application for British citizenship was rejected in December 1993, on the basis that the DTI report disqualified them from citizenship.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.330">Bower 1998, p.330.</ref> [[Michael Howard]], the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[home secretary]], asked for the decision to be reviewed, fearing renewed embarrassment over his connections with alleged fraudster Harry Landy, which surfaced during the DTI investigation.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.330" /> The application was rejected again in February 1995,<ref>Bower 1998, p.360.</ref> and in 1996 [[High Court of Justice|the High court]] declared that the home secretary could not deny, without explanation, the Al-Fayeds' citizenship requests.<ref>Bower 1998, p.399.</ref> The [[Home Office]] later abandoned its appeal to the [[House of Lords]] against the High Court's decision.<ref>Bower 1998, p.449.</ref>

In 1997, [[Jack Straw]], the home secretary in the new [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government, reconsidered the Al-Fayeds' citizenship request,<ref name="straw-reconsider">{{Cite news |last=Bennetto |first=Jason |date=23 December 1997 |title=Straw to reconsider Fayed citizenship request |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/straw-to-reconsider-fayed-citizenship-request-1290277.html |work=The Independent |location=London}}</ref> but rejected Mohamed Al-Fayed's request in May 1999.<ref name="fayed-fails">{{Cite news |last=Bennetto |first=Jason |date=21 October 1999 |title=Fayed fails in citizenship appeal |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/straw-to-reconsider-fayed-citizenship-request-1290277.html |work=The Independent |location=London}}</ref> Ali Al-Fayed had had his request for citizenship granted in March 1999.<ref name="fayed-brother">{{Cite news |date=11 March 1999 |title=Fayed brother gets UK citizenship |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/295121.stm |work=BBC News online |location=London}}</ref>

The rejection was attributed to Al-Fayed's admitting that he bribed politicians and his breaking in to safety deposit boxes in Harrods.<ref name="fayed-fumes" /> Al-Fayed described the decision as "perverse" and said he was a victim of the British establishment and "zombie" politicians.<ref name="fayed-fumes" />

=== Death ===
Al-Fayed died in London on 30 August 2023, at the age of 94.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weston |first1=Katie |last2=Merrifield |first2=Ryan |last3=Forsey |first3=Zoe |date=1 September 2023 |title=Mohamed al Fayed dies as tributes paid to former owner of Harrods and Fulham FC |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-mohamed-al-fayed-dies-30844832 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920124728/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-mohamed-al-fayed-dies-30844832 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |accessdate=2 September 2023 |work=[[Daily Mirror]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=1 September 2023 |title=Mohamed Al Fayed: Former Harrods owner dies at 94 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66690623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901210826/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66690623 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |accessdate=1 September 2023 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Atef |first=Rana |date=1 September 2023 |title=Veteran Businessman Mohamed Al Fayed Passes away Aged 94 |url=https://see.news/veteran-businessman-mohamed-al-fayed-passes-away-aged-94 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901193829/https://see.news/veteran-businessman-mohamed-al-fayed-passes-away-aged-94 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |accessdate=1 September 2023 |work=[[Sada El-Balad]]}}</ref> His cause of death was listed as [[old age]] and was announced on 1 September. He was buried that day at [[Barrow Green Court]] alongside Dodi,<ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Kieran |date=2 September 2023 |title=Mohamed Al-Fayed buried next to son on family estate almost 26 years after Dodi died in car crash with Princess Diana |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/mohamed-al-fayed-buried-next-son-family-estate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902130523/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/mohamed-al-fayed-buried-next-son-family-estate/ |archive-date=2 September 2023 |publisher=[[LBC News]]}}</ref> after a funeral service during [[Friday prayer]]s at [[London Central Mosque]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Niamh |date=1 September 2023 |title=Mohamed Al Fayed: Former Harrods and Fulham FC owner has died at the age of 94 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/mohamed-al-fayed-former-harrods-and-fulham-fc-owner-has-died-at-the-age-of-94-12952608 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901204227/https://news.sky.com/story/mohamed-al-fayed-former-harrods-and-fulham-fc-owner-has-died-at-the-age-of-94-12952608 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |accessdate=1 September 2023 |publisher=[[Sky News]]}}</ref>

=== In popular culture ===
[[File:Mohammed Al-Fayed, Madame Tussauds.jpg|thumb|Wax sculpture of Al-Fayed, [[Madame Tussauds]], London, July 2009]]
Al-Fayed was portrayed by [[Salim Daw]] in seasons 5 and 6 of ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaughan |first=Liam |date=12 November 2022 |title='The Crown' Season 5: Did Mohamed and Dodi Al-Fayed Really Produce 'Chariots of Fire'? |url=https://collider.com/the-crown-season-5-chariots-of-fire-al-fayed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112044904/https://collider.com/the-crown-season-5-chariots-of-fire-al-fayed/ |archive-date=12 November 2022 |access-date=3 September 2023 |website=Collider}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Allfree |first=Claire |date=14 November 2022 |title=The Crown star Salim Daw on finding Mohamed Al-Fayed's humanity: 'I love him with all my heart' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/crown-actor-selim-daw-playing-mohammed-al-fayed-love-heart/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905203950/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/crown-actor-selim-daw-playing-mohammed-al-fayed-love-heart/ |archive-date=5 September 2023 |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=16 November 2023 |title='The Crown' Accused Of Fabricating Genesis Of Princess Diana & Dodi Fayed's Fateful Romance |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-crown-princess-diana-mohamed-dodi-fayed-relationship-netflix-1235612740/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116111206/https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-crown-princess-diana-mohamed-dodi-fayed-relationship-netflix-1235612740/ |archive-date=16 November 2023 |access-date=16 November 2023 |publisher=Deadline}}</ref> Al-Fayed appeared on an episode of ''[[Da Ali G Show]]'' in 2000, and the ''[[Howard Stern Show]]'' in 2007.<ref name="Ind23">{{cite news |date=2 September 2023 |title=Mohamed Al Fayed called an 'extraordinary tour de force' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/piers-morgan-fulham-fc-shahid-khan-british-harrods-b2403702.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923082450/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/piers-morgan-fulham-fc-shahid-khan-british-harrods-b2403702.html |archivedate=23 September 2023 |accessdate=22 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="Stern2007">{{cite news |date=6 March 2007 |title=The Paparazzi Get a Break |url=https://www.howardstern.com/show/2007/03/06/the-paparazzi-get-a-break-rundowngallerymodel-10386/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320135626/https://www.howardstern.com/show/2007/03/06/earning-it-the-hard-way-rundowngallerymodel-10385/ |archivedate=20 March 2023 |accessdate=22 September 2024}}</ref> Al-Fayed appeared on the 2011 edition of British ''[[Celebrity Big Brother 2011 (UK)|Celebrity Big Brother]]'', and set the housemates a task based on dressing up as ancient Egyptian [[mummies]].<ref name="Mohamed Al-Fayed sets Big Brother Egyptian task">{{cite news |date=20 August 2011 |title=Mohamed Al-Fayed sets Big Brother Egyptian task |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s150/celebrity-big-brother/news/a336205/mohamed-al-fayed-sets-big-brother-egyptian-task.html |accessdate=22 September 2024 |publisher=Digital Spy}}</ref> In the 2007 BBC sitcom ''[[Gavin & Stacey]]'', [[List of Gavin & Stacey characters|Nessa]] recounts having a sexual relationship with Al-Fayed.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=Fr3B1IStpgQ |title=Nessa was onto Mohamed Al-Fayed long before everyone else! #GavinAndStacey |date=2024-10-15 |last=BestOfUKComedy |access-date=2024-10-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

== Sexual misconduct allegations ==
Al-Fayed has been accused by multiple women of [[sexual harassment]] and [[sexual assault|assault]].<ref name="crossing-swords">{{Cite news |date=24 October 1998 |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1998/oct/24/hamiltonvalfayed |title=Crossing swords with Mohamed |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |first=Henry |last=Porter |access-date=6 March 2018 |archive-date=4 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304083206/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/1998/oct/24/hamiltonvalfayed |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Boggan">{{Cite news |last=Boggan |first=Steve |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/al-fayed-accused-harrods-boss-rejects-charges-of-lechery-and-bugging-1289749.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/al-fayed-accused-harrods-boss-rejects-charges-of-lechery-and-bugging-1289749.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |url-access=registration |url-status=live|title=Al Fayed Accused: Harrods boss rejects charges of lechery and bugging|work=The Independent|location=London|date=20 December 1997}}</ref> Young women applying for employment at Harrods were often subjected to [[HIV test]]s and [[gynaecological]] examinations.<ref name="Bower271–72">{{cite book |last=Bower |first=Tom |authorlink=Tom Bower |title=[[Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography]] <!--|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygLDIAAACAAJ-->|year=1998 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-333-74554-0 |pages=271–72}}</ref> They were then selected to spend the weekend with Al-Fayed in Paris.<ref name="Bower271–72" />

=== Early allegations ===
In "[[Holy War at Harrods]]", a 1995 profile of Al-Fayed for ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'', [[Maureen Orth]] described how, according to former employees, "Fayed regularly walked the store on the lookout for young, attractive women to work in his office. Those who rebuffed him would often be subjected to crude, humiliating comments about their appearance or dress... A dozen ex-employees I spoke with said that Fayed would chase secretaries around the office and sometimes try to stuff money down women's blouses".<ref name="maureen-orth">{{Cite magazine |url=https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1995/9/holy-war-at-harrods |title=Holy War at Harrods |first=Maureen |last=Orth |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=1 September 1995 |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905203954/https://archive.vanityfair.com/article/1995/9/holy-war-at-harrods |url-status=live }}</ref> Al-Fayed sued ''Vanity Fair'', resulting in a settlement with no damages paid, but requiring ''Vanity Fair'' to place all evidence in locked storage. ''Vanity Fair'' chose to settle in part out of sympathy for Princess Diana's fatal crash.<ref name="GuardianSep27">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/27/how-mohamed-al-fayed-kept-claims-of-sex-crimes-under-cover-for-decades |title=How Mohamed Al Fayed kept claims of sex crimes under cover for decade |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=27 September 2024}}</ref>

In December 1997, the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] current affairs programme ''The Big Story'' broadcast testimonies from former Harrods employees who spoke of how Al-Fayed routinely sexually harassed women in similar ways.<ref name="Boggan"/> Al-Fayed was interviewed under caution by the [[Metropolitan Police]] after an allegation of sexual assault against a 15-year-old schoolgirl in October 2008. The case was dropped by the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] when they found there was no realistic chance of conviction due to conflicting statements.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7894870.stm|title=No Sex Charges for Harrods Owner|work=[[BBC News]]|date=17 February 2009|access-date=13 November 2022|archive-date=30 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130200316/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7894870.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

A December 2017 episode of Channel 4's ''[[Dispatches (TV programme)|Dispatches]]'' programme alleged that Al-Fayed sexually harassed three female Harrods employees, and attempted to "groom" them. One of the employees was aged 17 at the time. Cheska Hill-Wood waived her right to anonymity to be interviewed for the programme.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mendick|first=Robert|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/08/mohamed-al-fayed-accused-harassing-17-year-old-harrods-employee/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/08/mohamed-al-fayed-accused-harassing-17-year-old-harrods-employee/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Mohamed Al-Fayed accused of harassing 17-year-old Harrods' employee|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=8 December 2017|access-date=5 March 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The programme alleged Al-Fayed targeted young employees over a 13-year period.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=David|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/mohamed-al-fayed-accused-of-sexually-harassing-young-staff-688twtk2v|title=Mohamed Al Fayed accused of sexually harassing young staff|work=[[The Times]]|date=8 December 2017|access-date=5 March 2018|url-access=subscription|archive-date=6 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306023301/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mohamed-al-fayed-accused-of-sexually-harassing-young-staff-688twtk2v|url-status=live}}</ref>

Early media scrutiny of sexual misconduct allegations against Al-Fayed was curtailed by his frequent threats of litigation. Al-Fayed developed a reputation for spending large sums on litigation against media outlets reporting on sexual assault allegations against him. The lack of scrutiny was also attributed to the actions of Al-Fayed's security chief, John MacNamara, who allegedly threatened and surveilled potential witnesses and victims.<ref name="GuardianSep27" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2024 |title=How Mohamed Fayed's 'cold and unscrupulous' security guard covered up his secrets |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/25/harrods-mohamed-fayed-john-macnamara-secrets/ |website=The Telegraph}}</ref>

=== Sexual misconduct scandal ===
In September 2024, [[BBC News]] reported that more than 20 women who had worked at Harrods have alleged that Al-Fayed sexually assaulted them; five of these women accused him of [[Rape in English law|raping]] them.<ref name="BBC News 2024-09-19">{{cite news |first1=Cassie |last1=Cornish-Trestrail |first2=Keaton |last2=Stone| first3=Erica |last3=Gornall |first4=Sarah |last4=Bell |title=Mohamed Al Fayed accused of multiple rapes by staff |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6x635wpjxo |access-date=19 September 2024 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=19 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/19/harrods-ex-owner-mohamed-al-fayed-accused/|title=Women accuse Mohamed al-Fayed, billionaire and friend of U.K. royalty, of rape|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Karla|last=Adam|date=19 September 2024|access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref> Former manager of the women's club [[Fulham L.F.C.]], [[Gaute Haugenes]] said in September 2024 that to protect players from Al-Fayed they were not allowed to be left alone with him. He also said that members of staff were aware that he "liked young, blonde girls".<ref>{{cite web | title=Mohamed Al Fayed: Fulham 'protected' women's players from former owner | website=BBC Sport | date=20 September 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c870d8ry859o | access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/cps-al-fayed-sexual-abuse-harrods-explainer-b1183123.html|title=Mohamed Al Fayed: How billionaire was subject of sexual abuse claims for decades|date=20 September 2024 |publisher=Evening Standard}}</ref>  A documentary, ''Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods'' was broadcast on [[BBC Two]] which featured interviews with the women and explored evidence of the failure by Harrods to properly investigate the claims and the potential "cover-up" of abuse allegations.<ref name="BBC News 2024-09-19"/> On 21 September 2024, Dean Armstrong KC, a barrister representing alleged victims, said his team had 37 clients, but that he had been contacted by 150 individuals with claims about Al-Fayed.<ref>{{cite web | last=Mackintosh | first=Thomas | title=Mohammed Al Fayed: CPS did not prosecute Harrods owner twice | website=BBC Home | date=22 September 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2k9ggjdjdo | access-date=22 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cm245q4qj4go |title=Victims of Mohamed Al Fayed tell BBC of alleged rape and trafficking|date=25 September 2024 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> In September 2024, it has been reported that Kristina Svensson, who worked at Ritz hotel, will be the first victim to file a complaint against Mohamed Al Fayed in France, while previously the focus was on London.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Art |first=Pop Culture & |date=2024-09-25 |title=Mohamed Al Fayed abuse scandal: Kristina Svensson becomes first to file complaint in France |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2498658/mohamed-al-fayed-abuse-scandal-kristina-svensson-becomes-first-to-file-complaint-in-france |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
On 26 September 2024, the [[Metropolitan Police]] said they would be exploring to see if anyone else should be pursued for criminal offences following the allegations made against Al-Fayed. On the same day, Harrods's managing director, Michael Ward, said Al Fayed "presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct".<ref>{{cite web | last=Cooney | first=Christy | title=Police to explore if anyone can be pursued over Fayed claims | website=BBC News | date=26 September 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e86j2gz51o | access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Matthew |title=Met to face inquiry over handling of Mohamed Al Fayed allegations |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/08/met-to-hold-inquiry-over-handling-of-mohamed-al-fayed-allegations |website=The Guardian |date=8 January 2025}}</ref>

By 26 September it was thought that around 200 women, who previously worked for Al Fayed, had spoken to investigators with claims of rape and sexual assault.<ref>{{cite web | title=Over 200 women in legal talks with Harrods over Fayed abuse claims | website=Arab News | date=10 October 2024 | url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2574785/world | access-date=19 October 2024}}</ref>
In addition to reported sexual assault issues at Harrods, on 26 September sexual assault allegations were also made relating to Al-Fayed's ownership of Fulham FC between 1997 and 2013.<ref>{{cite web | last=Boffey | first=Daniel | title=Sexual assault claims made over Mohamed Al Fayed's Fulham tenure | website=the Guardian | date=26 September 2024 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/26/sexual-assault-claims-mohamed-al-fayed-fulham-football-club | access-date=27 September 2024}}</ref> On 27 September lawyers representing those making allegations against Al-Fayed said they were working with 60 women.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Anna |last=Lanche |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c749n4e3n17o |title=Sixty women in Mohamed Al Fayed Harrods legal case, lawyers say |date=27 September 2024 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=27 September 2024}}</ref>

On 11 October the Metropolitan Police revealed that 40 new allegations, from 40 different people, including sexual assault and rape, had been made against Al-Fayed, covering a period between 1979 and 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0kj2vkjn58o|title=Police record 40 new allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed|date=11 October 2024|website=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/mohamed-al-fayed-harrods-met-police-b2627770.html|title=Police investigate 40 new allegations against Mohamed al-Fayed|date=11 October 2024|website=The Independent}}</ref>

On 18 October, former Fulham Ladies F.C. captain [[Ronnie Gibbons]] said that she had been [[Groping|groped]] twice by Al Fayed and that he had forcefully tried to kiss her in his private office at the Harrods store in 2000, when she was 20 years old.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ornstein |first1=David |last2=Williamson |first2=Laura |title=Mohamed Al Fayed accused of sexually assaulting Fulham Ladies captain at Harrods: 'I was used' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5851577/2024/10/18/mohamed-al-fayed-harrods-fulham-ronnie-gibbons/ |website=[[The Athletic]] |access-date=18 October 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241018125011/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5851577/2024/10/18/mohamed-al-fayed-harrods-fulham-ronnie-gibbons/ |archive-date=18 October 2024 |language=en |date=18 October 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Garry |first1=Tom |title=Former Fulham women's captain alleges sexual assault by Mohamed Al Fayed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/18/former-fulham-womens-captain-alleges-sexual-assault-by-mohamed-al-fayed |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 October 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241018173646/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/18/former-fulham-womens-captain-alleges-sexual-assault-by-mohamed-al-fayed |archive-date=18 October 2024 |language=en |date=18 October 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Laura |title=Ex-Fulham Ladies captain Ronnie Gibbons 'groped' by Al Fayed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly6056vlgvo |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=18 October 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241018171139/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly6056vlgvo |archive-date=18 October 2024 |language=en |date=18 October 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> By 21 October, Harrods announced that they were in the process of settling more than 250 claims for compensation brought by women who had alleged sexual misconduct by Al Fayed.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Price | first1=Ellie | last2=Cursino | first2=Malu | title=Mohamed Al Fayed: Harrods settling more than 250 claims against former owner | website=BBC News | date=21 October 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg9gnw44e4o | access-date=22 October 2024}}</ref> By 31 October, 400 alleged victims or witnesses had presented themselves to lawyers concerning allegations of sexual misconduct. It was described, at the time, by a lawyer representing the Justice for Harrods Survivors group as "the worst case of corporate abuse of women the world has ever seen".<ref>{{cite web | title=More than 400 come forward over Mohamed Al Fayed sexual abuse allegations | website=BBC News | date=31 October 2024 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7dgrkp2vzo | access-date=31 October 2024}}</ref> Some women claimed that they had been sexually abused by both Al Fayed and his brother Salah, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title='Mohamed Al Fayed's brother Salah also abused us', say women|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/one-bbc-harrods-london-france-b2647385.html |first=William |last=Warnes |newspaper=The Independent |date=14 November 2024}}</ref>

In November 2024, it was found that the Metropolitan Police were told about allegations of sexual assault against Al Fayed ten years earlier than it had acknowledged.<ref name="BBC News 2024-11-01">{{cite news |first1=Hannah |last1=Price |first2=Daniel |last2=De Simone |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg7nk5dx0wo |title=Met told about Al Fayed a decade earlier than stated |date=1 November 2024 |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> The Met had claimed that it first received such allegations in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=De Simone |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8egz8gr8lo |title=Met only sought Al Fayed charges for two victims |work=BBC News |date=19 October 2024 |access-date=1 November 2024}}</ref> However, in 1995, the Met had received such allegations from Samantha Ramsay, who is now deceased. The BBC reported that "Samantha's family say the Met dismissed her claims. They believe that multiple women could have been saved from sexual abuse if the force had acted." The Met claimed that there was no history of Samantha's allegations on their computer system, "but that in 1995 some reports were paper-based and might not have been transferred." Ramsay's sister, Emma, recalled the police as having said at the time: "We've added it to a pile of other female names that we've got that have made the same complaint against Mohamed Al Fayed."<ref name="BBC News 2024-11-01"/> The Metropolitan Police has said it is investigating more than five people it believes may have assisted or enabled Al Fayed's sexual offences.<ref name="BBC News 2024-11-27">{{Cite web |date=27 November 2024|title=Mohamed Al Fayed: Police investigate more people over billionaire's abuse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce9gle4m1v3o |access-date=27 November 2024|website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> By the end of November 2024, the inquiry was looking into alleged offences between 1977 and 2014 with the youngest victim aged 13.<ref name="BBC News 2024-11-27"/>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Bower |first=Tom |authorlink=Tom Bower |year=1998 |title=Fayed |location=London |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |isbn=978-0-333-74554-0}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |first1=Henry |last1=Brooke |first2=Hugh Graham Cazalet |last2=Aldous |title=House of Fraser Holdings Plc: Investigation Under Section 432 (2) of the Companies Act 1985: Report |year=1988 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office|isbn=978-0-11-514652-7|ref={{harvid|Brooke & Aldous|1988}} }}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.alfayed.com}}{{Dead link|date=November 2021}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140216084506/http://www.alfayed.com/ archived] on [[Wayback Machine]] in 2014)
* [http://www.the-acf.com/ Al-Fayed Charitable Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926124926/http://www.the-acf.com/ |date=26 September 2011 }}

{{Mohamed Al-Fayed}}
{{Fulham F.C.}}
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