MOHAMED AL FAYED

Mohamed Al Fayed was born in 1933 in Alexandria, Egypt. In the 1930s Alex, as it was known, was a fascinating city, with communities of Greeks, Jews, Lebanese, Italians and Turks living alongside the native Alexandrines. Though it was never legally colonised, Egypt was administered by the British for more than 70 years. The British army HQ was in the city of Fayed, in the Canal Zone, from which the family originates.

Mohamed’s father was a professor of Arabic. His grandfather was a merchant – and it was at his knee that Mohamed learned the first rules of being a successful businessman.

Incorporating the Estates of Inveroykel, Duchally, and Balnagown itself, the Estates were originally owned by the Clan Ross, known descendants of Scottish legend Sir William Wallace.

In the early 1970s, when Mohamed Al Fayed came across Balnagown, it was love at first sight, despite its run-down façade. On the discovery that the Estates were for sale, he made an offer. Within a week they were his. Twenty million pounds worth of investment later, the Estates have been meticulously restored to their former glory both inside and out. Go to the main hall in Balnagown today, and you will see a grand wooden chair said to have belonged to Wallace himself.

For further information about Mohamed Al Fayed, please visit www.alfayed.com