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Harrods has asked the High Court to appoint special executors to the estate of its late former owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, in an attempt to open up another route for compensation for alleged victims of his sexual abuse.
The luxury London department store confirmed on Friday that it has lodged a so-called passing-over application to appoint professional executors to carry out the administration of the estate. That means his widow and two daughters could be replaced as executors, according to a person familiar with the situation.
“This application potentially opens a route for survivors who have no connection to Harrods — and so are not eligible to apply to the Harrods Redress Scheme — to make claims directly against the Fayed estate,” Harrods said in a statement on Friday. “It also opens a route for Harrods to potentially seek contribution for compensation paid out by Harrods for the actions of [Al] Fayed.”
More than 100 victims had entered the department store’s compensation scheme over the past three months, “many of whom have had eligibility confirmed”, Harrods added.
Harrods’ court filing comes after the BBC last year broadcast allegations of sexual assault, including rape, against Al Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94. The Egyptian businessman owned and controlled Harrods between 1985 and 2010, when he sold it to a Qatari sovereign wealth fund.
Law firm Harbottle & Lewis is representing Heini Wathén, the widow of the late businessman, and his daughter Camilla, while Farrer & Co is representing his daughter Jasmine. Together, the three are the executors of the estate, according to the person familiar with the arrangement.
Harrods started victims’ payouts at the end of April and has previously said victims could apply for compensation until March 31 next year, although it may extend the deadline.
Victims can still take Harrods to court if they decide the settlement scheme is not suitable for them.
Harbottle & Lewis and Farrer & Co did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
