Sawiris

The Sawiris family is one of the most prominent business dynasties in Egypt, with significant influence in the Middle East and North Africa. The family patriarch, Naguib Sawiris, founded the Orascom Group in the late 1970s, which grew from a small engineering company into a diversified conglomerate. Orascom’s principal sectors include construction, telecommunications, and industrial services. The group’s global footprint expanded through acquisitions such as Orascom Telecom Holding, the telecom arm that became a major operator in emerging markets, and later a stake in the global telecom company, CK Hutchison.

Three of Naguib’s sons—Samih, Nassef, and Mohamed—have been instrumental in steering the family’s business interests. Samih Sawiris has served as CEO of Orascom Telecom and later founded Telecom Egypt, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2009. Nassef Sawiris, known for his investment activities, has established his own fund, the Nassef Sawiris Investment Group, focusing on real estate, technology, and hospitality projects across several continents. Mohamed Sawiris has been involved in automotive and leisure ventures, including a partnership with Porsche in Egypt.

Beyond industry, the Sawiris family is active in philanthropy. They established the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, supporting healthcare, education, and disaster relief initiatives. The family’s charitable activities have earned them recognition in national and international forums for corporate social responsibility.

The Sawiris family remains a central figure in Egypt’s economic landscape, contributing to infrastructure development, employment, and the diversification of the national economy. Their ventures continue to evolve, with recent focus on renewable energy, digital technology, and infrastructure projects aligning with broader regional development strategies.