 "Then Fulham football club chairman Mohamed Al Fayed Mandatory attends a match in Fulham, West London, UK, January 12, 2013. File Image/Reuters")
Late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed has been marred by accusations of sexual abuse, with more than 20 former Harrods employees alleging they were raped or assaulted by him during his time as owner of the luxury UK department store.
Despite his death at 94 in August 2023, a series of new revelations and legal investigations have surfaced, placing a spotlight on his legacy. Al Fayed with his connections to Princess Diana and his ownership of iconic establishments like Harrods and the Ritz in Paris made him famous all over the world.
What are the allegations against Al Fayed?
A BBC documentary titled ‘Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods’ has brought forth accusations against Al Fayed. According to the programme, five women allege they were raped by Al Fayed, and at least 15 others accuse him of sexual misconduct, spanning a 25-year period from 1985 to 2010.
One woman told the BBC: “Mohamed Al Fayed was a monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass.” Another, identified as Gemma, recounted her harrowing experience at his Villa Windsor apartment in Paris, where she claimed Al Fayed raped her and then forced her to wash herself with disinfectant to erase any trace of the assault.
The accusations against Al Fayed were not confined to a single location. Alleged incidents occurred in London, Paris, Saint-Tropez, and Abu Dhabi. Lawyers representing the victims suggest that Harrods failed to intervene and even played a role in covering up the abuse.
Bruce Drummond, a barrister representing several of the victims, commented: “The spider’s web of corruption and abuse at this company was unbelievable and very dark.”
Harrods, now under new ownership, has responded with a strong statement, expressing that they are “utterly appalled” by the allegations and condemning Al Fayed’s actions. The company admitted its failure in protecting its employees during his reign and vowed to rectify the situation for the victims.
“While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation,” Harrods’ statement read.
What is the legal fallout?
The allegations have triggered ongoing legal investigations in both the UK and the US, with law firms, including Leigh Day and Motley Rice, actively pursuing cases against Al Fayed’s estate and even the UK Metropolitan Police, who allegedly failed to act on earlier reports of abuse.
One lawyer, Maria Mulla, described a disturbing practice where female employees were subjected to medical examinations, including cervical and ovarian screenings, as part of their employment. “If the women would query why the tests were necessary, they would be told…he wants to make sure that you are clean,” Mulla told reporters.
As of now, 37 women have come forward with claims, and legal representatives, including Gloria Allred, expect that number to rise. Dean Armstrong, another lawyer representing victims, pointed out the responsibility that Harrods holds, stating: “Meaningful accountability means having a proper voice and having the ability to tell your story.”
Victims are being encouraged to seek justice, with lawyers building a civil case against the luxury retailer for its collective responsibility in the cover-up of Al Fayed’s crimes.
What was Al Fayed’s connection to Princess Diana?
Though the allegations paint a grim picture, Mohamed Al Fayed’s life was not devoid of fame and influence. Best known for owning Harrods and the Ritz, Al Fayed also gained public attention due to his connection with Princess Diana and his son, Dodi Al Fayed.
Diana and Dodi were romantically involved, and both died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. After their deaths, Al Fayed spent years attempting to prove that the crash was not an accident but a deliberate plot by the British establishment to prevent Diana from marrying his son, a Muslim.
Although an official inquest ruled that Diana and Dodi were unlawfully killed due to the negligent driving of their chauffeur, Henri Paul, while they were being pursued by paparazzi, Al Fayed continued to assert that they had been assassinated.
“I believe they are withholding some of the documents at the request of the British secret services,” he once said, referring to his suspicions about the involvement of US and British agencies in the incident.
Al Fayed’s portrayal in media, particularly in Netflix’s The Crown, reignited interest in his complex personality and tragic loss. However, for many of his former employees, the image presented in such shows stands in stark contrast to their personal experiences.
One former assistant, Sophia, criticised the portrayal, saying: “People shouldn’t remember him like that.”
How did Al Fayed grow his empire?
Born in 1929 in Alexandria, Egypt, Al Fayed built his fortune through business ventures in shipping, construction, and real estate.
After moving to the UK in the 1970s, he made high-profile acquisitions, including the Ritz hotel in Paris in 1979 and the House of Fraser, which owned Harrods, in 1985. The purchase of Harrods became central to Al Fayed’s public persona, intertwining his name with British elite circles.
Al-Fayed also bought west London football club Fulham FC for £6.25 million in 1997, before selling it in July 2013.
Despite his business success, Al Fayed was never granted British citizenship. “I’m here to stay. It’s okay, it’s no problem, I’m not desperate, I’m not leaving the country, I’m here forever — I’m staying,” he once stated. The refusal to grant him citizenship is thought to be linked to several controversies, including his conspiracy theories surrounding Diana’s death.
Al Fayed’s wealth and influence shielded him from the legal repercussions of the many allegations during his lifetime, but the ongoing investigations ensure that his legacy will remain clouded by the revelations of abuse.
He is survived by Heini Wathén, his wife who he married in 1985. Together, they raised four children: Jasmine, Camilla, Karim, and Omar. Dodi was Al Fayed’s eldest son from his first marriage to Samira Khashoggi from 1954 to 1956.
Harrods has since been sold to Qatar’s royal family in 2010 for £1.5 billion ($2.3 billion), and the Ritz remains an emblem of luxury.
With inputs from agencies