CEOInterviews.AI
Start App
Try: AI strategy tariffs earnings guidance layoffs interest rates growth

Naguib Sawiris

Executive Chairman, Orascom

Search every verified Naguib Sawiris interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In October 2026, Naguib Sawiris, chairman of Orascom Investment Holding, gave an interview to FRANCE 24 in which he described the October 7 attacks as a "horrible act of terrorism" that brought Palestinians "nothing" and "only destruction." He also said the economic fallout from the Iran war is "happening," citing oil prices around $100 and the drawdown of strategic reserves, and he blamed Iran for becoming a "destabilizing power" in the region. Sawiris discussed his recent visit to Syria, where he met President Ahmed al-Sharaa, saying he went to help "the new Syria" rather than seek compensation for past business losses, and he expressed support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also praised Morocco's appointment of its first female prime minister as a positive step. At the Egypt Mining Forum in late September 2026, Sawiris, speaking as chairman of In2Metals, highlighted Egypt's mineral potential, particularly in gold, copper, and silver, and called on the government to open new concessions, invest in geophysical data collection, and encourage exploration in the Eastern Desert. He noted that bringing a new mine to production takes about seven years while demand continues to rise, and he suggested that Egypt's gold income could eventually match or surpass its oil and gas income, citing Sudan as an example. He also emphasized that responsible mining companies should restore land and build better homes and schools for affected communities.

Recent appearances

Verified interview transcripts

Notable quotes

“What did Palestine or Palestinians gain from October 7? Nothing. Only destruction and with an enemy you know that he's going to kill 10 people for one or 50 for one like he did. So it was I I I failed to see what was uh what did they want to achieve with October 7? You see you I you can argue well look what the Israelis are doing. Look at the settlers. They're crazy. They're Yes, yes, but if I steal your house, you w”

“I think it's not about fear, it's happening, you know, I think it's happening because you have oil prices now at the 100 dollar. You have the reserves from the United States coming back out and Europe now is forced to bring it take out of from its own reserves, you know. So, it's very apparent that this is very dangerous, you know. Uh and I don't think that the world can sustain uh the status quo to year to year end ”

“If we can continue with this encouragement to the sector, the gold income can surplus the oil and gas income. It's happened in Sudan. I can give you an example. In Sudan, when the north separated itself from the south, the south ended with most of the oil and gas, but the north ended up with most of the mining and the gold mining, and the income was equal.”

“The demand is you see, what people don't understand about gold that to bring a new mine to life, it's a period of 7 years. During these 7 years, people are consuming the same amount of gold and it's actually increasing. You know, but the population is increasing because of industry and use, because of the reserves governments are building now to create a different currency than the dollar. So, but to build a new mine”

“when I do business, I always put the fact that you have to do it very fast in order to be successful. If it drags, if it takes too long because if it's a good transaction, it's a good business, time is against you. Anything can happen. A war can in the country you're working can erupt. The partner you have dies. Anything can go wrong. So, when you run on something where you're sure of something that's very big, very ”

“unfortunately my character is a bit emotional. So, if I don't like the person in front of me, even if I'm going to do a billion dollar of profits, I won't work with them. I consider that God has been gracious to me. So, why the hell should I work with someone I don't like? I mean, it's a luxury of being rich. You can choose who you work with.”

The summary and quote tags on this profile are produced with AI assistance from verified, first-person interview transcripts, then checked by our team to confirm the speaker's identity and the accuracy of every quote. See how we verify →