Early Life and Education
Naguib Onsi Sawiris was born on June 15, 1954, in Cairo, Egypt, to a Coptic Christian family. He is the son of Onsi Sawiris, the founder of the Orascom Group. Naguib received a diploma from the German Evangelical School in Giza and pursued higher education at ETH Zurich, earning a diploma in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in technical administration.
Rise to Success
Sawiris joined the family business, Orascom, in 1979. He played a key role in the company's expansion, particularly in the telecommunications sector. His strategic vision led to the creation of Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) in 1997, later becoming Orascom Telecom Media and Technologies. He spearheaded the development of Egypt's first internet service provider, InTuch, in 1994 and Mobinil, Egypt's first private mobile network, in 1997, partnering with Orange and Motorola. Sawiris expanded into satellite communications, founding ESC in 1996.
Key Business Strategies
Sawiris focused on expanding Orascom's reach across Africa, Europe, and Asia. A significant move was selling his stake in his telecommunications companies to the Russian company VimpelCom (now Veon) in 2011. He later invested in the pan-European television channel Euronews. His ventures also include La Mancha Holding, a mining investment firm with operations in Africa and other global markets. Sawiris founded Ora Developers, which undertakes real estate developments and hospitality projects worldwide.
Philanthropy
Naguib Sawiris is actively involved in philanthropy, including founding the Free Egyptians Party and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development. He has supported education and job creation initiatives. He is also known for offering to purchase an island for Syrian refugees.