Orascom CEO on Recession, Human Rights and Fujairah UAE

Egyptian businessman and billionaire, Samih Sawiris, is becoming a well-known identity in the UAE and he has a special connection with Fujairah.

Business
Samih Sawiris is chairman and CEO of Orascom Development which has a clutch of companies under this umbrella.

As head of property developer Orascom Hotels & Development, bought land in the Swiss mountain village of Andermatt, where he is developing a world-class tourism destination according to the highest environmental standards. He not only successfully won the trust of the locals but also received an exemption from Switzerland’s property laws, which forbid foreigners to own land.

In a recent interview with CNN Marketplace Middle East Sawiris spoke about beating the recession in the region. (The interview commences at the 2.30 mark)




Freedom
Sawiris has had a long-standing commitment to social justice and more recently he has been a major contributor in the fight against human trafficking in the Middle East. Along with Richard Branson, Sawiris teamed up with H. E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in their recent End Human Trafficking Now! Campaign.

Fujairah Fun
The largest boat (143 feet) moored at the Fujairah International Marine Club is the black, Wellesand (pictured), owned by Sawiris.

A fulltime staff looks after the Wellesand and every now and again Sawiris flies to the Fujairah International Airport and within a few minutes is out on his boat enjoying life on the Fujairah waters.

But for how much longer will Sawiris have the Fujairah connection? Judging by this advertisement, his boat is up for sale at a price of just over $1.3m.

Geoff Pound

This article is also posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: Samih Sawiris is chairman and CEO of Orascom Development which has a clutch of companies under this umbrella. (Photo courtesy of Orascom)