Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris apologises after Saudi criticism over Riyadh airport attack

Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris apologised on Monday for delaying his response to casualties from an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, following criticism from Saudi writer Wafaa Al-Rasheed.

Al-Rasheed criticised Sawiris in a post on X, accusing him of remaining silent about the victims of the attack.

“He didn’t utter a word about our dead in Riyadh… as if our blood isn’t even worth a word of condolence!” she wrote.

She added: “How wretched the stance when masks fall, and silence regarding innocent lives becomes a testament to a bankrupt conscience—and what a conscience!”

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Al-Rasheed tagged Sawiris’s account in her post, prompting a response from the Egyptian businessman.

“I apologise for the delay… May God have mercy on the innocent victims, including the Egyptian flight attendant; my condolences to you, and may the aggressor face ruin,” Sawiris replied.

He expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, saying: “We in Egypt stand with you heart and soul, and our love for the Saudi people is in all our hearts.”

Sawiris reiterated his apology for not commenting sooner on the attack.

He also called for a unified Arab position against Iran, urging Arab countries to set aside their differences and confront what he described as the “Iranian enemy” without delay or hesitation.

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