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Key Points
- Samih Sawiris will perform at the Cairo Opera House on May 7, 2025, with all proceeds benefiting Gaza refugees.
- The concert will feature the Egyptian Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Swiss conductor Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer, with tickets priced from $5 to $20.
- This concert builds on Sawiris' ongoing commitment to humanitarian causes, following a similar event to support Egypt's Schools for Egypt initiative.
Egyptian billionaire Samih Sawiris is stepping up his philanthropic efforts once again, this time through a live performance at the Cairo Opera House, to support the growing number of internally displaced refugees in Gaza. This is another chapter in his commitment to humanitarian causes.
Sawiris lends talent, heart to Gaza
Sawiris, who was worth $2.9 billion in 2009, ranks among Egypt's wealthiest individuals alongside his brothers, Nassef and Naguib Sawiris. On May 7, 2025, at 8:00 PM, he will take to the stage to showcase his piano skills in a special concert.
The performance will feature the Egyptian Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Swiss guest conductor Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer, with music director Ahmed El-Saedi. Tickets for the event range from EGP250 ($5) to EGP1,000 ($20), with all proceeds going to the Egyptian Red Crescent to aid refugees from Gaza.
Concert supports Gaza relief efforts
The concert comes during one of the most difficult periods in Gaza’s recent history. Since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israeli territory, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and over 5,400 injured, Israel’s military response has led to the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians and nearly 99,000 injuries. By early 2025, around 90 percent of Gaza’s population had been displaced, with roughly 1.9 million people now taking shelter in UNRWA-run school buildings.
For Samih Sawiris, the event is another step in his long-running commitment to humanitarian efforts. It follows a similar concert held in January 2023, where he joined forces with the Swiss Orchestra to raise funds for the Sawiris Foundation’s Schools for Egypt initiative. That night, he promised to match the funds raised, supporting access to education for children in some of Egypt’s most underserved communities.
Samih Sawiris drives global resort expansion
Samih Sawiris is the youngest son of construction magnate Onsi Sawiris. He heads Orascom Development, a global resort developer with projects in Egypt, Montenegro, and Switzerland. Sawiris' influence in the tourism sector continues to expand, with his latest acquisition being a MAD4 billion ($400 million) tourism project on Morocco’s Atlantic coast in December 2024.
In addition to his ventures in Morocco, Sawiris has been instrumental in the $1.2 billion transformation of Andermatt, a once-overlooked Swiss Alpine town now turned into a luxury destination. The resort offers world-class skiing, hiking trails, golf courses, and Michelin-starred dining, attracting visitors year-round with its stunning scenery and outdoor activities.
