A Turning of the Guard: Inside the Sawiris Family’s New Chapter at Orascom Development
When one thinks of the Sawiris family, one thinks of ambition, audacity, and transformation.
From construction sites in Upper Egypt to telecom towers across continents, from luxury resorts on the Red Sea to alpine retreats in Switzerland — the family has shaped Egypt’s modern private sector in ways few others have.
But in late 2021, a quieter moment defined the next phase of that story. Samih Sawiris, founder and visionary behind Orascom Development, handed full control of the company to his son, Naguib Samih Sawiris — a decision that symbolized more than succession. It was a generational shift, a passing of philosophy from dream-builder to strategist, from expansion to refinement.
This is the story of that transition — of the family, the company, and the new era it is entering.
From Sohag to the World: The Making of a Legacy
The Sawiris story began in Sohag, Upper Egypt, with Onsi Sawiris (1930–2021) — a self-made entrepreneur who founded a small contracting business in 1950. His firm grew into what became Orascom, one of Egypt’s largest and most diversified groups.
His three sons — Naguib, Samih, and Nassef — would go on to lead separate branches of the family empire, each defining a distinct era of Egyptian enterprise.
- Naguib Onsi Sawiris, the eldest, revolutionized Egypt’s telecom and media landscape.
- Samih Sawiris, the middle son, built towns, not towers — creating self-sustaining communities and global resort destinations.
- Nassef Sawiris, the youngest, led Orascom Construction Industries and later became a global investor and one of Egypt’s wealthiest figures.
What united them all was an entrepreneurial DNA grounded in discipline, purpose, and an instinctive belief in Egypt’s potential.
Samih Sawiris: The Visionary Who Built Towns from Sand
Born in 1957 and educated in Engineering Management at the Technical University of Berlin, Samih returned to Egypt with a desire to redefine tourism and community living.
He believed that development was not about building hotels — but about building life. His vision led to the birth of El Gouna in 1989 — a once-barren stretch of desert on the Red Sea that became one of the most successful resort towns in the region.
Over the next three decades, Samih transformed Orascom into a multinational developer operating across Egypt, Switzerland, Montenegro, Oman, Morocco, and the UAE, listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX) under Orascom Development Holding AG.
Major Milestones Under Samih’s Leadership:
- 1989: Founding of El Gouna, the company’s flagship project, now a thriving town of over 20,000 residents, 18 hotels, a university, and a hospital.
- 1997: Establishment of Orascom Hotels & Development and Orascom Projects for Touristic Development, later merged into Orascom Development Holding.
- 2005: Expansion into international markets with Andermatt Swiss Alps — a $1.5 billion mountain resort and residential community in partnership with the Swiss government.
- 2009: Launch of Taba Heights, Makadi Heights, and Byoum Fayoum, diversifying Orascom’s Egyptian portfolio.
- 2011: Strategic investment in FC Luzern football club in Switzerland and later in the hotel platform Bidroom.
- 2014–2020: Consolidation of Orascom’s hospitality and real estate assets into a unified holding structure under Swiss governance.
Through each project, Samih’s philosophy remained consistent:
“We don’t build hotels; we build communities that live, breathe, and sustain.”
The Leadership Lessons of Samih Sawiris
Samih’s leadership style was distinctive — a blend of instinct, empathy, and quiet authority. Within Egypt’s corporate circles, he became known for his reflective tone and people-first approach.
1. Build for People, Not for Profit
He believed that long-term success depended on human experience. El Gouna’s success wasn’t measured in occupancy rates — it was measured in belonging. “If people call it home,” he once said, “you’ve done more than business.”
2. Delegate, Then Step Back
Samih’s transition to Naguib was not spontaneous. He had long practiced decentralization within Orascom — empowering local managers to lead projects independently. “Control kills creativity,” he often told his teams.
3. Take Measured Risks
His decision to develop Andermatt — a massive resort in the heart of Switzerland — was seen by many as improbable. It became a symbol of cross-cultural partnership and long-term planning.
4. Redefine Success as Legacy
In later years, Samih shifted his focus toward philanthropy and art. From funding educational programs in Upper Egypt to backing a heart hospital in Rwanda, his understanding of impact evolved from profit to permanence.
These lessons, though simple in form, built the foundation of Orascom’s enduring culture — one that Naguib would soon inherit.
The Handover: A Quiet but Defining Moment
By 2021, Orascom faced an inflection point. Its CEO had stepped down unexpectedly, the global tourism market was recovering post-pandemic, and new strategic clarity was needed.
Samih, now 64, saw this as the right moment to transition. Instead of appointing an external executive, he turned inward — to family.
He entrusted full control of Orascom Development Holding to his son, Naguib Samih Sawiris, granting him the authority to make sweeping decisions, including delisting the company from the Swiss Stock Exchange.
This wasn’t a retreat — it was a recalibration. For Samih, leadership wasn’t about permanence; it was about continuity.
He shifted his attention toward creative and philanthropic pursuits — exploring music, film, and cultural projects that align with his lifelong curiosity.
Meet the New Leader: Naguib Samih Sawiris
While the name “Sawiris” evokes an empire, Naguib Samih Sawiris brings a different energy to the table — methodical, data-driven, quietly strategic.
Educated at ETH Zürich in Mechanical Engineering and Technical Administration, he represents the next generation of Egyptian leadership — global in mindset, local in purpose.
Before assuming full control, Naguib spent years working across Orascom’s subsidiaries, gaining firsthand experience in development operations, investment management, and governance.
As Executive Chairman of Orascom Development Holding, he now leads a company operating 10 destinations across 7 countries, with over 30 hotels, 1,500 employees, and a growing real estate portfolio that serves more than 25,000 homeowners.
Naguib’s Early Moves and Strategic Vision
From his first months in office, Naguib signaled a subtle but significant shift in strategy — away from visibility and toward value consolidation.
1. Delisting from Switzerland
The move to delist Orascom from the Swiss Stock Exchange allowed greater flexibility and autonomy. Free from the quarterly pressures of Western markets, the company could now plan long-term and align more closely with its core geographies — Egypt, the Red Sea, and the MENA region.
2. Strengthening Core Assets
Naguib refocused development on Egypt’s key destinations: El Gouna, Makadi Heights, and O West in 6th of October City — projects that embody Orascom’s philosophy of integrated living rather than speculative expansion.
3. Governance and Structure
Internally, he began modernizing Orascom’s management structure — emphasizing data analytics, operational efficiency, and transparent reporting mechanisms across subsidiaries.
4. Culture of Continuity
Perhaps his most understated contribution is preserving Orascom’s soul. “This is not about changing the DNA,” he said in a 2023 interview, “it’s about strengthening it.”
A Generational Shift in Tone
If Samih was the dreamer who saw possibility in deserts, Naguib is the strategist who measures sustainability in detail.
His leadership tone is pragmatic — more boardroom than brainstorm, more system than story — but the outcome is no less visionary.
He speaks of Orascom’s next chapter as a balance between heritage and innovation. Between keeping what works — community, design, hospitality — and infusing it with technology, data, and global partnerships.
Under his leadership, Orascom is now exploring new business models in smart destinations, renewable energy integration, and sustainable hospitality — ensuring that the developments are not just beautiful, but responsible.
Family Legacy, Rewritten for a New Era
The Sawiris family legacy has always evolved with time.
- Onsi built the foundation.
- Samih expanded the vision.
- Now, Naguib redefines the purpose.
What makes this transition distinct is its maturity — it’s not a handover of power but of perspective. It’s not a dynasty protecting its legacy; it’s a family reinterpreting it.
The Sawiris story is no longer only about economic success — it’s about longevity, cultural relevance, and social contribution.
In a rare interview, Samih once said:
“If my children can take what I built and make it fit for their world, not mine — then I’ve succeeded twice.”
That sentiment encapsulates what Orascom stands for today: not an empire frozen in time, but a living system capable of adapting to new generations, economies, and values.
What Comes Next for Orascom
As Egypt continues to urbanize and attract global investment, Orascom is poised to play a larger role — not just as a developer, but as a storyteller of place.
Projects like O West, El Gouna’s marina expansion, and Andermatt Swiss Alps’ completion phase are shaping a brand of Egyptian development that is cosmopolitan, sustainable, and self-sufficient.
At the same time, Naguib’s experience in global markets allows him to navigate cross-border financing, hospitality partnerships, and smart infrastructure models with agility.
The future of Orascom lies not in expansion for its own sake, but in depth, quality, and purpose — the same traits that built its foundation 30 years ago.
The Lessons That Endure
From Onsi to Samih to Naguib, one thread runs unbroken: a belief that Egypt’s progress begins with creation — the courage to imagine, to build, and to rebuild.
Samih’s generation dreamed with scale; Naguib’s generation dreams with structure. Both, however, share the same compass — a conviction that progress is not a product of chance, but of choice.
And so, as Orascom enters this new era, the story is not about who holds the chair — but how the chair itself evolves.
Because for the Sawiris family, leadership was never about titles. It was always about what comes next.
