In Naguib Sawiris's view, success doesn't mean fame, popularity, or charm—it means resilience, perseverance, and steadfastness. His life story reflects the fact that he was born into a wealthy but disciplined family, and he carved his path through education, early entrepreneurship, and leadership in industries like telecommunications and real estate. Despite challenges, he consistently expanded his businesses globally and remained a strong force in Egypt's economic and social development. With a net worth of USD 5 billion in 2025, Sawiris defines success not by wealth alone, but by long-term impact, grit, and continuous innovation. Ahmad Abdel Rahman reports.
What does the word "success" mean? Does it mean fame? Charisma? Love? In Naguib Sawiris's dictionary, the word "success" means resilience, perseverance, and steadfastness.
As one of Egypt's most prominent and successful businesspersons and entrepreneurs, Sawiris's story and biography are a true source of inspiration, especially for anyone starting a new venture or simply seeking to further their career.
Who is Naguib Sawiris?Naguib Sawiris is a well-known businessman, entrepreneur, and father of four. He is an influential public figure with numerous contributions in various fields, including communications and real estate. Sawiris holds several important titles, including:
Owner and Chairman of Ora Developers
Chairman and Managing Director of Orascom Investment Holding
Chairman of Orascom TMT Investments in Luxembourg
Chairman of La Mancha Holding
Member of the External Advisory Board of the Global Institute for Advanced Studies at New York University
Founding member of the Africa Advisory Group of the London Stock Exchange
Chairman of Euronews
Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development
Member of the Board of Trustees and Director of the Arab Thought Foundation
Founder of the Free Egyptians Party
Sponsor of the Cairo International Film Festival and the Luxor African Film Festival
Member of the International Advisory Board of the National Bank of Kuwait
Member of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and the Consumer Rights Protection Association in Egypt
The beginningNaguib Onsi Sawiris, the eldest of three siblings, was born in 1954 to a wealthy family that owned the Orascom Construction, Communications, Technology, and Development Group. Sawiris grew up in a family that valued hard work, honesty, and independence. In all his interviews, Sawiris always refers to his father, Onsi's strict upbringing.
Despite being the son of a business owner, Naguib had been working and owning his own business since school because his father wanted to "teach him the basics of entrepreneurship."
His journey began when Naguib enrolled in a German school in Egypt. He then pursued higher education, earning a diploma in mechanical engineering and a Master's degree in technical management from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zürich).
After returning to Egypt, Sawiris started a business with a friend. At this time, his father, Onsi, approached him to join the family business. He did so in 1979, establishing the railways, information technology, and communications sectors of the Orascom Group.
Success continuesNaguib Sawiris is best known for his construction and real estate development company, Ora Developers, which owns several important projects in Egypt such as New Cairo. However, the reader may be surprised to learn that before taking on real estate management, Sawiris was—and still is, to some extent, a telecommunications entrepreneur.
Naguib Sawiris was also one of the first businessmen in Egypt to obtain a licence to operate the country's first mobile network, launching the Orascom Group's telecommunications division in 1997.
By the early 2000s, the company experienced rapid growth, expanding its operations to 28 countries. In 2005, Sawiris purchased Wind, Italy's third-largest mobile operator.
However, in 2011, Naguib concluded a multibillion-dollar merger between Russian Telecom Company VimpelCom (now known as Veon) and Orascom Telecom. He serves as CEO of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding SAE (OTMT), which owns stakes in Egypt and the Italian internet company Italia online.
Naguib Sawiris' wealthAccording to estimates and figures published by Forbes Magazine, based on the story "The World's Richest Arabs 2025," the net personal wealth of the Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris was estimated to be USD 5 billion in 2025.
Recent figures show that companies owned by Naguib Sawiris have made profits of approximately $744 million so far this year, the highest annual profits ever achieved by the businessman, according to Bloomberg data.
Naguib Sawiris' flagship: Ora DevelopersOra Developers is a real estate company owned and operated by Sawiris as part of his investments in Egypt and abroad. Since 2016, the company has become a trusted player in the real estate sector not only in Egypt but also in Cyprus, Iraq, Pakistan, the UAE, Greece, and Grenada.
In Egypt, the company has implemented real estate projects in key areas such as New Cairo, 6th of October City, Sheikh Zayed, and the North Coast. Despite its short history in the market, Ora Developers has established itself as a strong player in the Egyptian real estate market through its high-end, branded projects.
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