Naguib Sawiris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naguib Onsi Sawiris
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| نجيب انسى ساويرس | |
Naguib Sawiris, 2009
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| Born | 15 June 1954 Cairo, Egypt
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| Alma mater | ETH Zurich |
| Occupation | CEO Orascom Investment Holding S.A.E. |
| Known for | Orascom Investment Holding S.A.E., Gemini Global Development Egypt (Gemini Egypt Holding) |
| Spouse(s) | Ghada Gamil Sawiris |
| Children | 4 |
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| Relatives | Nassef Sawiris and Samih Sawiris (brothers) |
Naguib Onsi Sawiris (born June 15, 1954) is a famous Egyptian businessman. He is known for leading big companies like Orascom Investment Holding S.A.E. and for his work in telecommunications.
His Early Life
Naguib Sawiris was born in Cairo, Egypt, on June 15, 1954. His father, Onsi Sawiris, started the Orascom Group, a very large company. Naguib is the oldest of three brothers. His brothers, Nassef Sawiris and Samih Sawiris, are also very successful businessmen.
Learning and Education
Naguib went to the German Evangelical School in Giza. He also studied mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich, a famous university in Switzerland. He earned a master's degree in technical administration there.
Building Businesses
Naguib Sawiris joined his family's business, Orascom, in 1979. He helped the company grow a lot. It became one of Egypt's biggest and most varied companies. It also became the largest private employer in the country.
Naguib helped build the railway, information technology, and phone parts of Orascom. In the late 1990s, Orascom was divided into different companies. These included Orascom Telecom Holding and Orascom Technology Systems. Later, Orascom Telecom Media and Technologies was formed. Today, it is known as Orascom Investment Holding S.A.E. (OIH), where Naguib is the main boss.
In 2012, Naguib became the chairman of La Mancha Holding. In 2014, he sold his share in his phone companies to a Russian company called Vimplecom. He made over $4 billion from this sale.
In 2015, Naguib bought a large part of a European TV channel called Euronews. He was the main owner until he started selling his share in 2021. In September 2015, he offered to buy an island near Greece or Italy. He wanted to help people who were escaping the conflict in Syria.
In 2016, Naguib sold his share in the Egyptian TV channel ONTV. In December 2016, he stepped down as the CEO of Orascom Telecom Media & Technology.
His company, Ora Developers, started in 2016. It builds large real estate projects around the world. These include projects in Grenada, Cyprus, and Pakistan. In 2023, it was reported that Naguib might invest in a big copper-gold project in Pakistan called Reko Diq.
In January 2024, the Iraqi government announced a deal with Ora Developers. They will build a huge new city in Iraq called “Ali Al-Wardi City.” This city will have many homes, green spaces, and smart technology. It aims to help reduce crowding in Baghdad.
Exploring Gold and Mining
Naguib Sawiris has also focused on gold and mining. He does this through his company, La Mancha. This company invests in mining. He wants to find and mine more gold, especially in Africa and other parts of the world. His company has bought and funded mining projects. They have also invested in gold exploration in places like Canada and Côte d'Ivoire.
The Djezzy Story
In the early 2000s, Orascom Telecom bought most of an Algerian phone company called Djezzy. Djezzy grew very fast. It became Orascom's most profitable company in Algeria.
Later, the Algerian government wanted more control over Djezzy. This led to a disagreement. In 2010, a Russian company bought Orascom. Naguib Sawiris then sued the Algerian government. He said they made it hard for him to own the company. The dispute ended in 2014 when the Russian company sold a part of Djezzy to Algeria. In 2017, a court ruled in favor of the Algerian government.
Life Outside Work
Naguib Sawiris is married and has four children. He lives in Cairo, Egypt. He can speak Arabic, English, German, and French.
In 2024, Forbes magazine listed him as one of the richest people in Africa. He is a Coptic Christian.
See also
In Spanish: Naguib Sawiris para niños
