Muhammad al-Fayed prepares to leave Britain for Switzerland, chased by social, economic, political losses
Egypt-UK, Local, 5/31/2003

The Egyptian billionaire Muhammad al-Fayed is preparing to leave Britain where he had lived for more than 30 controversial years for final residency in Switzerland taking with him his business and trade.

It was learnt that Fayed who was not given the British nationality had signed a big deal with the British Billionaire Lord Green, to sell him the most famous Harrods stores not only in Britain but in the world.

Al-Fayed bought this shop which used to be considered by the British as a "diamond" in their historical Crown, in 1987 following a controversial deal in which the he was victorious over the late British Billionaire T. Roland who sought all trade, financial and political effective circles to stop the deal, accusing Fayed that he took the price of Harrods which was estimated at 600 million Sterling pounds from the Sultan of Brunei Muhammad Hassan al-Balqeyah, Fayed's former friend.

However, al-Fayed proved by legal documents that he had paid the money from his own pocket and this obliged the British authorities concerned to authorize the deal.

In his decision to leave Britain for Switzerland, Muhammad Fayed backtracks from a statement he vowed for himself before the public and at the TV screens two years ago to that he will build his tomb on the dome of Harrods shop, implying that he will not sell it or leave Britain after the decision taken by the British court not to give him the British nationality.

The Egyptian, Muhammad al-Fayed, raised provocative stories in the British arena during past years especially when he accused the British royal family of being behind killing his elder son Imad in a car accident with Princess Diana, former wife of the British crown prince and continued to say that this family killed his son and the princess to prevent their marriage.

Worthy mentioning that the British taxation department have recently increased taxes imposed on Harrods with a special consideration for Muhammad Fayed in his being a foreign investor, according to the taxation law for foreigners. The new imposed taxes affected Harrods performance.

The years following the death of his son, and princess Diana, Muhammad al-Fayed continued to criticize British politicians especially husband of the Queen. A matter which was displeasing for the Britons who felt that this "odd" Egyptian undermined their dignity and they were not able to get rid off him or to alienate him because there are no legal documents against him to that effect.

Previous Stories:
  Britain helps to recreate ancient tombs of Egypt   (7/17/2002)
  Mrs. Mubarak visits British library   (5/17/2002)
  SCA starts legal measures to retrieve head of Amenhotep   (11/24/2001)
  Al Fayed requests an inheritance notice from Giza court   (1/30/1998)
  Egyptian cinema produces first film about Dodi and Diana   (10/6/1997)

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