Harrods to compensate victims of abuse by former owner Mohamed Al-Fayed
Former female employees of Harrods will receive up to £385,000 in compensation for harassment and rape committed by the department store’s former owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed.
Photo: Filippo Diotalevi, CC BY 2.0
The iconic London department store Harrods has announced the launch of a compensation program for victims of sexual violence committed by its former owner, Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed.
According to BBC, individual compensations could reach £385,000 (around €460,000).
Al-Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 to 2010, has been accused by hundreds of former employees of harassment and rape that allegedly took place not only in London, but also in Paris, Abu Dhabi, and Saint-Tropez.
The scale of the abuse came to light following a BBC documentary released last year.
More than twenty women shared their stories in the film, after which over 400 victims joined the investigation.
Harrods has issued an official apology to the victims. Two of Al-Fayed’s brothers also face similar accusations.
Located in West London, Harrods is one of the world’s largest department stores, featuring 330 departments over an area of 90,000 square meters.
From 1985 to 2010, it was owned by Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed before being sold to the Qatar Investment Authority for £1.5 billion.
Until 2001, Harrods held the status of an official supplier to the British royal family, a fact marked by royal crests on its facade and a special title in official documents.
Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, the Ritz Hotel in Paris, and Fulham Football Club, passed away in London in August 2023. In 2013, his net worth was estimated at $1.4 billion.