Former Harrods Owner Mohamed Al Fayed, Father of Dodi, Passes Away at 94

Mohamed Al Fayed, the prominent businessman and former owner of Harrods, whose son Dodi tragically lost his life alongside Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car crash, has passed away at the age of 94.

Born in Egypt, Al Fayed established a significant business empire in the Middle East before relocating to the United Kingdom in the 1970s. Despite his successful career, he was unable to obtain British citizenship, a goal he had aspired to achieve.

In his later years, Al Fayed dedicated much of his time to questioning the circumstances surrounding the deaths of his son Dodi and Princess Diana. Over the past decade, he lived a relatively private life in his Surrey mansion alongside his wife, Heini.

In a statement released by his family on Friday, they expressed their sadness: “Mrs. Mohamed Al Fayed, her children, and grandchildren wish to confirm that her beloved husband, their father, and their grandfather, Mohamed, has peacefully passed away of old age on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. He enjoyed a long and fulfilled retirement surrounded by his loved ones.”

Fulham Football Club, which Al Fayed owned for many years, expressed deep sorrow at his passing. The club stated, “We owe Mohamed a debt of gratitude for what he did for our club, and our thoughts now are with his family and friends at this somber time.”

Shahid Khan, Al Fayed’s successor at the club, paid tribute on the club’s website, acknowledging Al Fayed’s significant contributions: “The story of Fulham cannot be told without a chapter on the positive impact of Mr. Al Fayed as chairman. His legacy will be remembered for our promotion to the Premier League, a Europa League Final, and moments of magic by players and teams alike.”

Journalist Piers Morgan described Al Fayed as an “extraordinary tour de force of a man who never got over the death of his beloved son Dodi in the crash that also killed Diana.” Morgan added that he found Al Fayed to be a “flawed, complex character” but liked him.

Mohamed Al Fayed’s journey from selling fizzy drinks on the streets of Alexandria, Egypt, to becoming a prominent figure in business was remarkable. He made influential connections through his first wife, Samira Khashoggi, sister of Saudi millionaire arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Al Fayed’s role in Khashoggi’s import business opened doors for him in Egypt, eventually leading to the launch of his own shipping company.

In 1966, Al Fayed became an advisor to one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, the Sultan of Brunei. He later relocated to the UK in 1974, and in 1979, he and his brother Ali acquired the Ritz hotel in Paris for £20 million. Their business prowess continued as they took over Harrods in 1985, following a fierce bidding war with the Lonrho group, for £615 million.

During his ownership, Fulham FC achieved remarkable success, ascending from the third tier to the Premier League. Al Fayed was known for his philanthropy, generously supporting charities like Great Ormond Street Hospital and focusing on the welfare of underprivileged and ill children. He established the Al Fayed Charitable Foundation in 1987 to improve the lives of vulnerable youngsters.

The tragic car crash in 1997 that claimed the lives of his son Dodi, a film producer, and Princess Diana deeply affected Al Fayed. He became consumed by speculation surrounding their deaths. During the inquest in February 2008, Al Fayed made claims suggesting a conspiracy orchestrated by Prince Philip and involving MI6. However, these theories were labeled as “conspiracy theories” by the coroner and were ultimately rejected by the jury.