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, Republic of 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 15 June 1954) is a famous Egyptian businessman. He is known for leading large companies, especially in telecommunications and construction. Mr. Sawiris is currently the chairman of Weather Investments' parent company. He also used to be the chairman and CEO of Orascom Telecom Holding and Orascom Investment Holding S.A.E.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Naguib Sawiris was born in Cairo, Egypt, on June 15, 1954. He grew up in a Coptic Christian family. His father, Onsi Sawiris, started the big company called Orascom Group. Naguib is the oldest of three brothers. His younger brothers, Nassef Sawiris and Samih Sawiris, are also very successful businessmen.
Education and Learning
Naguib Sawiris went to the German Evangelical School in Giza, Egypt. After that, he studied mechanical engineering. He earned a master's degree in technical administration from ETH Zurich, a well-known university in Switzerland.
Building Businesses
Naguib Sawiris joined his family's business, Orascom, in 1979. He helped the company grow a lot. Orascom became one of Egypt's biggest companies. It also became the largest private employer in the country.
Mr. Sawiris helped build the railway, information technology, and telecommunications parts of Orascom. In the late 1990s, Orascom split into different companies. These included Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) and Orascom Construction Industries (OCI).
In 2011, Orascom Telecom Media and Technologies was formed. It later changed its name to Orascom Investment Holding S.A.E. (OIH). Naguib Sawiris is the Managing Director and CEO of OIH.
In 2012, Mr. Sawiris became the chairman of La Mancha Holding. This company focuses on investments.
In 2014, he sold his share in his telecommunications companies. He sold them to a Russian company called Vimplecom. This deal was worth more than US$4 billion.
In 2015, Naguib Sawiris bought a large part of the European TV channel Euronews. He was the main owner for several years. He started selling his share in 2021.
Helping Refugees
In September 2015, Naguib Sawiris made a special offer. He wanted to buy an island off Greece or Italy. His idea was to create a safe place for refugees. These refugees were fleeing the conflict in Syria. He knew there might be challenges with laws and rules.
Real Estate Projects
In 2016, Naguib Sawiris launched Ora Developers. This company builds real estate projects around the world. It owns projects worth $2.5 billion. These include Silver Sands in Grenada and Ayia Napa Marina in Cyprus. They also built the Eighteen luxury homes in Pakistan.
In 2023, it was reported that Mr. Sawiris was thinking about investing in a big copper-gold project. This project is called Reko Diq in Pakistan.
In January 2024, the Iraqi government announced a big plan. They signed a contract with Ora Developers. The company will build a huge new city in Iraq. It will be called “Ali Al-Wardi City.” This city will have 120,000 homes. It will also have green spaces and smart technology. The goal is to reduce crowding in Baghdad.
Ora Developers also announced a new project in the UAE. It is called Bayn. This will be a smart and green city. It is being built between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Gold and Mining
Naguib Sawiris has also made big moves in the gold and mining industries. He does this through his company, La Mancha. La Mancha invests in gold exploration and mining. They focus on growing operations in Africa and other parts of the world. His company has invested in gold projects in places like Canada and Côte d'Ivoire.
Djezzy Mobile Network
In the early 2000s, Orascom Telecom bought a large share of Djezzy. Djezzy is a mobile phone company in Algeria. It grew very fast. Djezzy became one of the most successful mobile service providers in Algeria.
Later, the Algerian government wanted more control over Djezzy. In 2010, a Russian company called VimpelCom bought Orascom. The dispute over Djezzy ended in 2014. VimpelCom agreed to sell a large part of Djezzy to Algeria.
Personal Life
Naguib Sawiris is married and has four children. He can speak several languages. He speaks Arabic, English, German, and some French.
In 2024, Forbes magazine listed Naguib Sawiris as one of the richest people in Africa. He is a Coptic Christian.
See also
In Spanish: Naguib Sawiris para niños
