Editing Mohamed Al-Fayed (section)

== Personal life ==
Fayed was married from 1954 to 1956 to [[Samira Khashoggi]]. He worked with his brother-in-law, Saudi Arabian arms dealer and businessman [[Adnan Khashoggi]].<ref name="Independent20071006" /> In 1985, Fayed married the Finnish socialite and former model [[Heini Wathén]], with whom he had four children, including [[Omar Fayed|Omar]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harries |first=Rhiannon |date=21 September 2008 |title=Daddy's girl: Mohamed al-Fayed's daughter Jasmine is gaining a reputation as a hot young designer |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/daddys-girl-mohamed-alfayeds-daughter-jasmine-is-gaining-a-reputation-as-a-hot-young-designer-934945.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412141544/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/daddys-girl-mohamed-alfayeds-daughter-jasmine-is-gaining-a-reputation-as-a-hot-young-designer-934945.html |archive-date=12 April 2010 |access-date=5 September 2023 |newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Curtis |first=Nick |title=Camilla Fayed: My upbringing? Let's say my normal is not your normal |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/camilla-fayed-my-upbringing-was-definitely-weird-and-wonderful-7bcgl8p9l |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127061919/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/camilla-fayed-my-upbringing-was-definitely-weird-and-wonderful-7bcgl8p9l |archive-date=27 November 2022 |access-date=5 September 2023 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2012 |title=Karim Fayed: The sound engineer |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/health/karim-fayed-the-sound-engineer-6794119.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906081019/https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/health/karim-fayed-the-sound-engineer-6794119.html |archive-date=6 September 2023 |access-date=5 September 2023 |language=en |newspaper=[[Evening Standard]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Isaac |first=Anna |date=3 April 2017 |title=Omar Fayed: 'I didn't want to become Mr Harrods' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/connect/small-business/omar-fayed-environmental-impact-as-important-as-business-bottom-line/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127062213/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/connect/small-business/omar-fayed-environmental-impact-as-important-as-business-bottom-line/ |archive-date=27 November 2022 |access-date=5 September 2023 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

Sometime in the early 1970s, he began using the prefix [[Arabic name#Dynastic or family name|''al-'']] ({{langx|ar|ال}}) in his name, rendering his name in English as "al-Fayed" rather than simply "Fayed".<ref name="Independent20071006" /> In Arabic names, the word ''al-'', in conjunction with the name of an ancestor, means ''family of'' or ''House of''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wynbrandt |first=James |url=https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofsa0000wynb/page/ |title=A Brief History of Saudi Arabia |author2=Gerges, Fawaz A. |publisher=Infobase |year=2010 |isbn=978-0816078769 |page=[https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofsa0000wynb/page/ xvii]}}</ref> This aristocratic prefix<ref name="Independent20071006" /> led to ''[[Private Eye]]'' magazine nicknaming him the "Phoney Pharaoh".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tyler |first1=Richard |last2=Mendick |first2=Robert |date=8 May 2010 |title=£1.5bn change in store at Harrods |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/7697397/1.5bn-change-in-store-at-Harrods.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/7697397/1.5bn-change-in-store-at-Harrods.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=19 June 2013 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His brothers Ali and Salah followed suit at the time of their acquisition of the [[House of Fraser]] in the 1980s, though by the late 1980s, both had backtracked on the practice.<ref>{{harvnb|Brooke & Aldous|1988|p=619}}</ref>

[[Max Hastings]], the former editor of the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'', wrote that Al-Fayed had "harried" [[Conrad Black]], the former owner of the ''Daily Telegraph'', "in pursuit of his demand to be referred to in our newspaper as "Al Fayed". I sent the chairman a note, explaining that this was a long-running saga: "The Fayeds have been seeking for years to call themselves Al Fayed, just as a socially ambitious Frenchman might seek to style himself de Fayed, or a German von Fayed ... At one level, it is harmless if the Fayeds wish to call themselves kings of Sheba, but I always feel determined to demonstrate that we will not be threatened."<ref name="citizen-black">{{Cite news |last=Hastings |first=Max |date=7 October 2002 |title=Citizen Black |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/oct/07/mondaymediasection.bookextracts?INTCMP=SRCH |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref>

=== Death of Dodi Fayed ===
{{Further|Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|Conspiracy theories about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales}}

==== Background and relationship with Princess Diana ====
[[Lady Diana Spencer]] married [[Charles III|Charles]], Prince of Wales, then [[heir apparent]] to the [[British throne]] in 1981, becoming [[Princess of Wales]]. She was an international celebrity and a frequent visitor to Harrods in the 1980s. Al-Fayed and Dodi first met Diana and Charles in July 1986 when they were introduced at a [[polo]] tournament sponsored by Harrods.<ref name = HighBeam1>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/08/31/dianas-life-on-display-sometimes-storybook-sometimes-soap-opera/4398f8d1-48d0-42e5-b815-05be80c240f7/ |title=Diana's Life on Display: Sometimes Storybook, Sometimes Soap Opera |first=David |last=van Drehle |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=31 August 1997 |access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>

Diana and Charles divorced in 1996. She was hosted by Al-Fayed in the [[south of France]] in mid-1997, with her sons, Princes [[William, Prince of Wales|William]] and [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex|Harry]].<ref name = HighBeam2>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13112834.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924184420/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-13112834.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=Coroner at Diana inquest dismisses all the conspiracy theories over fatal car crash Mohamed al-Fayed expresses surprise over the tone and content of remarks he says should be left to the jury to consider |first=Stephen |last=McGinty |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=3 October 2007 |access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref> For the holiday, Fayed bought a 195&nbsp;ft yacht, the ''[[Sokar (yacht)|Jonikal]]'' (later renamed the ''Sokar'').<ref name="Vanity Fair 2008-05">{{cite magazine |date=19 May 2010 |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/05/dunne200805 |title=Two Ladies, Two Yachts, and a Billionaire |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |location=New York |first=Dominick |last=Dunne |access-date=11 October 2013 |author-link=Dominick Dunne |archive-date=13 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013012757/http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2008/05/dunne200805 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dodi and Diana later began a private cruise on the ''Jonikal'' and paparazzi photographs of the couple in an embrace were published. Diana's friend, the journalist Richard Kay, confirmed that Diana was involved in "her first serious romance" since her divorce.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4409051.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194339/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4409051.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2015 |title=Di and Dodi's short summer |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=7 September 1997|access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>

Dodi and Diana went on a second private cruise on the ''Jonikal'' in the third week of August, and returned from [[Sardinia]] to Paris on 30 August. Later that day, the couple privately dined at the Ritz, after the behaviour of the press caused them to cancel a restaurant reservation. They planned to spend the night at Dodi's apartment near the [[Arc de Triomphe]].<ref name="bbc-final">{{Cite news |date=14 December 2006 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6219252.stm |title=Diana and Dodi: Their final hours |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=3 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403043705/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6219252.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In an attempt to deceive the [[paparazzi]], a decoy car left the front of the hotel, while Diana and Dodi departed from the rear of the hotel in a Mercedes-Benz S280 driven by concierge Henri Paul.<ref name="bbc-final"/> Five minutes later, the car crashed in the [[Pont de l'Alma]] tunnel. Dodi and Paul were killed; Diana died later in hospital. British bodyguard [[Trevor Rees-Jones (bodyguard)|Trevor Rees-Jones]], who sustained a serious head injury, was the sole survivor of the crash. Fayed arrived in Paris a day later and viewed Dodi's body, which was returned to the United Kingdom for an [[Islamic funeral]].<ref name="bbc-final"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64636402.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131013221726/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64636402.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2013|title=Fayed Is Buried After Quiet Islamic Tribute |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=1 September 1997 |access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref>

==== Conspiracy theories ====
From February 1998, Al-Fayed maintained that the crash was a result of a conspiracy,<ref name="diana-crash">{{Cite news |date=12 February 1998 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55800.stm |title=Diana crash was a conspiracy – Al Fayed |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107032400/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55800.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and later contended that the crash was orchestrated by [[MI6]] on the instructions of [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]].<ref name="point-claims">{{Cite news |date=19 February 1998 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55800.stm |title=Point-by-point: Al Fayed's claims |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107032400/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/55800.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> His claims were dismissed by a French judicial investigation, but Fayed appealed the verdict.<ref>{{cite news |title=France closes Diana investigation |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/04/04/diana.investigation/index.html |access-date=3 September 2023 |work=CNN World |date=4 April 2002 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903151555/https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/04/04/diana.investigation/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fayed risks huge lawsuit with appeal against Diana verdict |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/sep/05/monarchy.theobserver |access-date=3 September 2023 |work=The Observer |date=5 September 1999 |archive-date=3 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903151555/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/sep/05/monarchy.theobserver |url-status=live }}</ref>

The British [[Operation Paget]], a [[Metropolitan police]] inquiry that concluded in 2006, also found no evidence of a conspiracy.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 December 2006|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6179275.stm|title=Diana death a 'tragic accident'|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=13 November 2022|archive-date=13 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113134134/https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6179275.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> To Operation Paget, Al-Fayed made 175 "conspiracy claims".<ref>{{cite news |first=Martyn |last=Gregory |date=7 October 2007 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/martyn-gregory-alfayed-cant-rewrite-the-death-of-diana-394391.html |url-access=registration |title=Al-Fayed can't rewrite the death of Diana |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920234101/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/martyn-gregory-alfayed-cant-rewrite-the-death-of-diana-394391.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

An inquest headed by [[Lord Justice Scott Baker]] into the deaths of Diana and Dodi began at the [[Royal Courts of Justice]], London, on 2 October 2007 and lasted for six months. It was a continuation of the original inquest that had begun in 2004.<ref name="inquests">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk/faq/index.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080521144222/http://www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk/faq/index.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=21 May 2008 |title=Inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed: FAQs |access-date=4 June 2010 |year=2008 |work=Coroner's Inquests into the Deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed |publisher=Judicial Communications Office}}</ref>

At the Scott Baker inquest, Fayed accused the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, [[Lady Sarah McCorquodale]], her sister, and numerous others, of plotting to kill the Princess of Wales.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Bates |date=19 February 2008 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/19/diana.monarchy |title=They're all guilty? 'Definitely.' Fayed gets his day in court |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=27 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127153619/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/19/diana.monarchy |url-status=live }}</ref> Their motive, he claimed, was that they could not tolerate the idea of the Princess marrying a [[Muslim]].<ref name="The Guardian 2008-04-07">{{cite news |first=Angela |last=Balakrishnan |date=7 April 2008 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/07/diana.monarchy1 |title=Pregnancy rumours, MI6 plots and Henri Paul |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226014432/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/07/diana.monarchy1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Al-Fayed first claimed that the Princess was pregnant to the ''[[Daily Express]]'' in May 2001,<ref name="The Guardian 2008-04-07" /> and that he was the only person who had been told. Witnesses at the inquest who said the Princess was not pregnant, and could not have been, were part of the conspiracy according to Al-Fayed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7250002.stm |title=Diana murdered, Al Fayed claims |work=[[BBC News]] |date=18 February 2008 |access-date=13 October 2013 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227175316/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7250002.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Fayed's testimony at the inquest was roundly condemned in the press as farcical. Members of the British Government's [[Intelligence and Security Committee]] accused Fayed of turning the inquest into a 'circus' and called for it to be ended prematurely.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7256665.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Coroner warning in Diana inquest |date=21 February 2008 |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113134150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7256665.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Lawyers representing Al-Fayed later accepted at the inquest that there was no direct evidence that either the Duke of Edinburgh or MI6 were involved in any murder conspiracy involving Diana or Dodi.<ref name="fayed-collapses">{{Cite news |date=7 April 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7326311.stm |title=Fayed conspiracy claim collapses |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224070925/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7326311.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> A few days before Al-Fayed's appearance, John MacNamara, a former senior detective at [[Scotland Yard]] and Al-Fayed's investigator for five years from 1997, was forced to admit on 14 February 2008 that he had no evidence to suggest foul play, except for the assertions Al-Fayed had made to him.<ref name="The Guardian 2008-02-15">{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Bates |date=15 February 2008 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/15/monarchy |title=Diana conspiracy theory unravels as Fayed's investigator tells of lies and lack of evidence |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015231543/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/feb/15/monarchy |url-status=live }}</ref> His admissions also related to the lack of evidence for Al-Fayed's claims of the Princess's pregnancy and the couple's engagement.<ref name="The Guardian 2008-02-15"/>

The jury verdict, given on 7 April 2008, was that Diana and Dodi were "[[unlawfully killed]]" through the [[grossly negligent]] driving of Henri Paul,<ref name="verdict">{{cite web| url=http://www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk/hearing_transcripts/verdict.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080521144222/http://www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk/hearing_transcripts/verdict.htm|url-status=dead |archive-date=21 May 2008 |title=Hearing transcripts: 7&nbsp;April 2008 – Verdict of the jury |publisher=Judicial Communications Office |access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref> who was [[drunk]], and the pursuing vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Diana jury blames paparazzi and Henri Paul for her 'unlawful killing' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584160/Diana-jury-blames-paparazzi-and-Henri-Paul-for-her-unlawful-killing.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584160/Diana-jury-blames-paparazzi-and-Henri-Paul-for-her-unlawful-killing.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=12 October 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=7 April 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Al-Fayed's lawyers accepted that there was no evidence to support the assertion that Diana was illegally embalmed to conceal pregnancy, or that a pregnancy could be confirmed by any medical evidence.<ref name="fayed-collapses"/> They also accepted that there was no evidence to support the assertion that the French emergency and medical services had played any role in a conspiracy to harm Diana.<ref name="fayed-collapses"/> Following the Baker inquest, Al-Fayed said that he was abandoning his conspiracy campaign, and would accept the jury's verdict.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 April 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7337789.stm |title=Al Fayed abandons Diana campaign |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-date=15 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115071543/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7337789.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Journalist [[Dominic Lawson]] wrote in ''[[The Independent]]'' in 2008 that Al-Fayed sought to concoct "a conspiracy to cover up the true circumstances" of fatalities caused by the crash "involving an intoxicated and over-excited driver (an employee of Mohamed Fayed's Paris Ritz)". He "had remarkable success in persuading elements of the tabloid press, notably the ''Daily Express'', to give the conspiracy a fair wind."<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawson |first=Dominic |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-lawson-the-only-conspiracy-over-diana-s-death-was-fayed-s-bid-to-manipulate-the-british-public-804548.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-lawson-the-only-conspiracy-over-diana-s-death-was-fayed-s-bid-to-manipulate-the-british-public-804548.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |url-access=registration |url-status=live |title=The only conspiracy over Diana's death was Fayed's bid to manipulate the British public |work=The Independent |date=4 April 2008|access-date=19 December 2021}}</ref>

Al-Fayed financially supported ''[[Unlawful Killing (film)|Unlawful Killing]]'' (2011), a documentary film presenting his version of events.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/cannes-film-festival/8513112/Unlawful-Killing-film-about-the-death-of-Diana-likens-Prince-Philip-to-Fred-West.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/cannes-film-festival/8513112/Unlawful-Killing-film-about-the-death-of-Diana-likens-Prince-Philip-to-Fred-West.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Unlawful Killing: film about the death of Diana likens Prince Philip to Fred West |access-date=11 May 2011 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |first=Anita |last=Singh |date=13 May 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was not formally released because of the potential for libel suits.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Child |date=5 July 2012 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/05/princess-diana-documentary-unlawful-killing |title=Princess Diana documentary Unlawful Killing is shelved |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428102216/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jul/05/princess-diana-documentary-unlawful-killing |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Nationality ===
Al-Fayed was born an Egyptian citizen, entered [[Haiti]] on a Kuwaiti passport, and left Haiti with a Haitian [[diplomatic passport]] with which he entered the United Kingdom in 1964. In 1970 Al-Fayed informed [[Mahdi Al Tajir]] that he and his brothers' Haitian diplomatic passports had expired, and their Egyptian passports made it difficult for them to obtain visas in many countries.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.40">Bower 1998, p.40.</ref> Tajir secured Emirati passports for Al-Fayed, but not Emirati nationality.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.40" /> On the passport documents Al-Fayed had his date of birth changed from 1929 to 1933, making himself four years younger.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.40" /> His two brothers reduced their ages by ten years on their new passports.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.40" />

The rulers of Dubai, the [[Al Maktoum]] family, had refused to renew the Fayeds' passports in 1993, and so they reverted to travelling on their original Egyptian passports. Mohamed and Ali Al-Fayed applied for [[British citizen#Acquisition of British citizenship|British citizenship]] in early 1993. Ali's application was supported by [[Gordon Reece]] and [[Peter Hordern (politician)|Peter Hordern]], and Mohamed's by [[Edwin Bramall, Baron Bramall|Lord Bramall]] and [[Jeffrey Archer]].<ref>Bower 1998, p.304.</ref> The Al-Fayed brothers' application for British citizenship was rejected in December 1993, on the basis that the DTI report disqualified them from citizenship.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.330">Bower 1998, p.330.</ref> [[Michael Howard]], the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[home secretary]], asked for the decision to be reviewed, fearing renewed embarrassment over his connections with alleged fraudster Harry Landy, which surfaced during the DTI investigation.<ref name="Bower 1998, p.330" /> The application was rejected again in February 1995,<ref>Bower 1998, p.360.</ref> and in 1996 [[High Court of Justice|the High court]] declared that the home secretary could not deny, without explanation, the Al-Fayeds' citizenship requests.<ref>Bower 1998, p.399.</ref> The [[Home Office]] later abandoned its appeal to the [[House of Lords]] against the High Court's decision.<ref>Bower 1998, p.449.</ref>

In 1997, [[Jack Straw]], the home secretary in the new [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government, reconsidered the Al-Fayeds' citizenship request,<ref name="straw-reconsider">{{Cite news |last=Bennetto |first=Jason |date=23 December 1997 |title=Straw to reconsider Fayed citizenship request |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/straw-to-reconsider-fayed-citizenship-request-1290277.html |work=The Independent |location=London}}</ref> but rejected Mohamed Al-Fayed's request in May 1999.<ref name="fayed-fails">{{Cite news |last=Bennetto |first=Jason |date=21 October 1999 |title=Fayed fails in citizenship appeal |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/straw-to-reconsider-fayed-citizenship-request-1290277.html |work=The Independent |location=London}}</ref> Ali Al-Fayed had had his request for citizenship granted in March 1999.<ref name="fayed-brother">{{Cite news |date=11 March 1999 |title=Fayed brother gets UK citizenship |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/295121.stm |work=BBC News online |location=London}}</ref>

The rejection was attributed to Al-Fayed's admitting that he bribed politicians and his breaking in to safety deposit boxes in Harrods.<ref name="fayed-fumes" /> Al-Fayed described the decision as "perverse" and said he was a victim of the British establishment and "zombie" politicians.<ref name="fayed-fumes" />

=== Death ===
Al-Fayed died in London on 30 August 2023, at the age of 94.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weston |first1=Katie |last2=Merrifield |first2=Ryan |last3=Forsey |first3=Zoe |date=1 September 2023 |title=Mohamed al Fayed dies as tributes paid to former owner of Harrods and Fulham FC |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-mohamed-al-fayed-dies-30844832 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920124728/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-mohamed-al-fayed-dies-30844832 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |accessdate=2 September 2023 |work=[[Daily Mirror]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=1 September 2023 |title=Mohamed Al Fayed: Former Harrods owner dies at 94 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66690623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901210826/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66690623 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |accessdate=1 September 2023 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Atef |first=Rana |date=1 September 2023 |title=Veteran Businessman Mohamed Al Fayed Passes away Aged 94 |url=https://see.news/veteran-businessman-mohamed-al-fayed-passes-away-aged-94 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901193829/https://see.news/veteran-businessman-mohamed-al-fayed-passes-away-aged-94 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |accessdate=1 September 2023 |work=[[Sada El-Balad]]}}</ref> His cause of death was listed as [[old age]] and was announced on 1 September. He was buried that day at [[Barrow Green Court]] alongside Dodi,<ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Kieran |date=2 September 2023 |title=Mohamed Al-Fayed buried next to son on family estate almost 26 years after Dodi died in car crash with Princess Diana |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/mohamed-al-fayed-buried-next-son-family-estate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902130523/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/mohamed-al-fayed-buried-next-son-family-estate/ |archive-date=2 September 2023 |publisher=[[LBC News]]}}</ref> after a funeral service during [[Friday prayer]]s at [[London Central Mosque]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Niamh |date=1 September 2023 |title=Mohamed Al Fayed: Former Harrods and Fulham FC owner has died at the age of 94 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/mohamed-al-fayed-former-harrods-and-fulham-fc-owner-has-died-at-the-age-of-94-12952608 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901204227/https://news.sky.com/story/mohamed-al-fayed-former-harrods-and-fulham-fc-owner-has-died-at-the-age-of-94-12952608 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |accessdate=1 September 2023 |publisher=[[Sky News]]}}</ref>

=== In popular culture ===
[[File:Mohammed Al-Fayed, Madame Tussauds.jpg|thumb|Wax sculpture of Al-Fayed, [[Madame Tussauds]], London, July 2009]]
Al-Fayed was portrayed by [[Salim Daw]] in seasons 5 and 6 of ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaughan |first=Liam |date=12 November 2022 |title='The Crown' Season 5: Did Mohamed and Dodi Al-Fayed Really Produce 'Chariots of Fire'? |url=https://collider.com/the-crown-season-5-chariots-of-fire-al-fayed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112044904/https://collider.com/the-crown-season-5-chariots-of-fire-al-fayed/ |archive-date=12 November 2022 |access-date=3 September 2023 |website=Collider}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Allfree |first=Claire |date=14 November 2022 |title=The Crown star Salim Daw on finding Mohamed Al-Fayed's humanity: 'I love him with all my heart' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/crown-actor-selim-daw-playing-mohammed-al-fayed-love-heart/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905203950/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/crown-actor-selim-daw-playing-mohammed-al-fayed-love-heart/ |archive-date=5 September 2023 |access-date=6 September 2023 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=16 November 2023 |title='The Crown' Accused Of Fabricating Genesis Of Princess Diana & Dodi Fayed's Fateful Romance |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-crown-princess-diana-mohamed-dodi-fayed-relationship-netflix-1235612740/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116111206/https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-crown-princess-diana-mohamed-dodi-fayed-relationship-netflix-1235612740/ |archive-date=16 November 2023 |access-date=16 November 2023 |publisher=Deadline}}</ref> Al-Fayed appeared on an episode of ''[[Da Ali G Show]]'' in 2000, and the ''[[Howard Stern Show]]'' in 2007.<ref name="Ind23">{{cite news |date=2 September 2023 |title=Mohamed Al Fayed called an 'extraordinary tour de force' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/piers-morgan-fulham-fc-shahid-khan-british-harrods-b2403702.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923082450/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/piers-morgan-fulham-fc-shahid-khan-british-harrods-b2403702.html |archivedate=23 September 2023 |accessdate=22 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="Stern2007">{{cite news |date=6 March 2007 |title=The Paparazzi Get a Break |url=https://www.howardstern.com/show/2007/03/06/the-paparazzi-get-a-break-rundowngallerymodel-10386/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320135626/https://www.howardstern.com/show/2007/03/06/earning-it-the-hard-way-rundowngallerymodel-10385/ |archivedate=20 March 2023 |accessdate=22 September 2024}}</ref> Al-Fayed appeared on the 2011 edition of British ''[[Celebrity Big Brother 2011 (UK)|Celebrity Big Brother]]'', and set the housemates a task based on dressing up as ancient Egyptian [[mummies]].<ref name="Mohamed Al-Fayed sets Big Brother Egyptian task">{{cite news |date=20 August 2011 |title=Mohamed Al-Fayed sets Big Brother Egyptian task |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s150/celebrity-big-brother/news/a336205/mohamed-al-fayed-sets-big-brother-egyptian-task.html |accessdate=22 September 2024 |publisher=Digital Spy}}</ref> In the 2007 BBC sitcom ''[[Gavin & Stacey]]'', [[List of Gavin & Stacey characters|Nessa]] recounts having a sexual relationship with Al-Fayed.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=Fr3B1IStpgQ |title=Nessa was onto Mohamed Al-Fayed long before everyone else! #GavinAndStacey |date=2024-10-15 |last=BestOfUKComedy |access-date=2024-10-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref>