The Sawiris family (Coptic: ⲥⲉⲩⲏⲣⲟⲥ) is an Egyptian Coptic Christian[1] family that owns the Orascom conglomerate, spanning telecommunications, construction, tourism, industries and technology.[2][3] In 2008, Forbes estimated the family's net worth at US$36 billion.[4][5][6][7]

Onsi Sawiris (1930–2021) was the patriarch of the family. Various companies in the group are run by Onsi Sawiris' three sons:

Onsi Sawiris founded Orascom in 1950 that has grown into a conglomerate of companies including Orascom Telecom Holding (أوراسكوم للإتصالات), and Orascom Technology Solutions (OTS) (أوراسكوم للتكنولوجيا), both run by Naguib Sawiris, Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) (أوراسكوم للإنشاء والصناعة) run by Nassef Sawiris, Orascom Hotels and Development (OHD) (أوراسكوم للفنادق والتنمية) run by Samih Sawiris.

Naguib Sawiris is an investor in Mobinil, Egypt's main mobile phone company, and has expanded into Algeria, Tunisia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and even North Korea. He has also invested through affiliates in Italy (through Wind Telecomunicazioni SpA and Canada (through Globalive Wireless and its Wind Mobile). Naguib Sawiris is also investor in a highly influential Egyptian independent newspaper Almasry Alyoum and the owner of TV interests, most notably in OTV (Orascom Television).[8]

On 20 July 2018, it was announced that Nassef Sawiris was to become a major shareholder of historic English football club Aston Villa F.C., through the investment group, NSWE, formed with U.S. billionaire Wes Edens.

The Sawiris family also actively engages in charity and economic and social development through Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (مؤسسة ساويرس للتنمية الإجتماعية) that includes Sawiris Foundation Awards for Egyptian Literature (جائزة مؤسسة ساويرس للأدب المصري).

References

  1. ^ "Naguib Sawiris: 'If God wanted women to be veiled, he would have created them with a veil'". Arabian Business. 11 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Rich List 2009: #10 - The Sawiris Family". Arabian Business. 7 April 2010. Archived from the original on 7 April 2010.
  3. ^ "The richest men in Africa – 2009". 17 January 2010. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017.
  4. ^ "#60 Naguib Sawiris - Forbes.com". www.forbes.com. 5 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  5. ^ "#68 Nassef Sawiris - Forbes.com". www.forbes.com. 5 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009.
  6. ^ "#96 Onsi Sawiris - Forbes.com". www.forbes.com. 5 March 2008. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008.
  7. ^ "#396 Samih Sawiris". Forbes. 5 March 2008. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008.
  8. ^ Tryhorn, Chris (2010-02-02). "The Sawiris family: from entrepreneurs to media owners". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-02-06.


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