Speaker profile

Samih Sawiris

Chairman
Orascom Hotels and Development

Born in Cairo on the 28th of January 1957 as the middle son among three sons of Onsi Sawiris, founder and president of Orascom conglomerate. He received his Diploma in economic engineering from the Technical University of Berlin in 1980, Samih is married and has 5 children.

He is the founder and Chairman of Orascom Development Holding (ODH.SW), a Swiss- incorporated company listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX). Orascom Development is a leading developer of fully integrated destinations that include hotels, private villas and apartments, leisure facilities such as golf courses, marinas and supporting infrastructure. Orascom Development’s diversified portfolio of destinations is spread over nine jurisdictions (Switzerland, Egypt, Montenegro, Oman, UAE, Jordan and Morocco). The Group currently owns 35 hotels, with 8,135 guestrooms and over 1,000 rooms under development in the different countries. ODH operates eight destinations; Andermatt in Switzerland, Four in Egypt: El Gouna, Taba Heights, Haram City and Makadi; The Cove in United Arab Emirates and Jebel Sifah and Salalah Beach in Oman.

Samih is a major shareholder of Orascom Construction Industries (OCI N.V.) a Dutch based global producer of natural gas-based chemicals and engineering and construction contractor with projects and investments across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. He is also a significant stake holder in Lafarage (LG.FP); world leader in building material & major player in the cement, aggregates and concrete industries, operating in 64 countries and listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

In addition, Samih is a member of Sawiris Foundation for Social Development which was founded in April 2001, with an endowment from the Sawiris family, dedicated to social development.

Also, One of the Board of Trustees of Zewail City. He is One of the International Board of Trustee in TU Berlin Campus El Gouna University.

He is one of the International Advisory Board of YOU Foundation in Africa.