Naguib Sawiris: prospering under Mubarak’s Governement

A story in The Guardian emphasizes the connection between Naguib Sawiris business and politic backup, using President Mubarak as a sales man for Orascom.


As one of Egypt's wealthiest businessmen, it doesn't take a genius to figure out how telecom tycoon Naguib Sawiris has managed to succeed. It's well known in the mainstream media that Naguib Sawiris and his family have deep political connections to President Hosni Mubarak. As The Guardian reported, "The Sawiris family has continued to prosper over the past three decades under Hosni Mubarak's government." Naguib Sawiris profits both personally and commercially from his connection to Egypt's government elite.

To what extent are the Sawiris family and President Mubarak's family involved?

Mubarak's son, Alaa Mubarak, is a significant shareholder in Orascom and its affiliates, as well as a personal friend of Sawiris: privileged sources believe Alaa Mubarak's positive intervention on Naguib Sawiris' behalf is what helped Mobinil win the second GSM license in Egypt. In an interview with Al Arabiya News on July 18, 2004, Naguib Sawiris said he was "satisfied" with the Mubarak government. Mubarak must be satisfied, too. Because when Orascom encountered trouble with its Syrian venture, Mubarak went to Syria to try and settle Naguib Sawiris and Orascom's mess with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

The family ties don't stop at business. Naguib Sawiris, Alaa Mubarak, and his brother Nassef Mubarak are such close friends that they attended several football matches and stayed together in France during the 1998 World Cup. Naguib Sawiris' wife, Yousriya Loza Sawiris, serves as chairman and secretary general of the Sawiris Foundation, and President Mubarak's wife, Suzanne Mubarak, is on the board of directors.

At this point it wouldn't be surprising if someone called Naguib Sawiris and Mubarak answered the phone.