Orascom Construction — Key Facts
| Founded | 1950 (as Orascom Group) |
| Headquarters | Cairo, Egypt / Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Listed On | NASDAQ Dubai & Egyptian Exchange (EGX) |
| Founded By | Sawiris Family (Onsi Sawiris) |
| Revenue | ~$2.5+ billion annually |
| Sectors | Infrastructure, Industrial, Energy, US Construction |
Orascom Construction PLC is one of the Middle East and North Africa’s most prominent engineering and construction conglomerates. Founded by the Sawiris family in Egypt, the company builds large-scale infrastructure projects including fertilizer plants, power stations, water treatment facilities, roads, and industrial complexes across the Middle East, Africa, and the United States.
Who Owns Orascom Construction?
Orascom Construction is publicly listed on both NASDAQ Dubai and the Egyptian Exchange (EGX). The company is controlled by the Sawiris family, one of Egypt’s wealthiest and most influential business dynasties. Nassef Sawiris, son of Orascom founder Onsi Sawiris and one of Africa’s richest individuals, has been the key figure driving Orascom’s construction and industrial operations. The Sawiris family holds the majority stake through their holding entities, with the remaining shares publicly traded.
History and Background
The roots of Orascom trace back to 1950 when Onsi Sawiris established a contracting business in Egypt. Over decades, the Sawiris family built Orascom into a vast conglomerate spanning construction, telecom, hotels, and natural resources. Orascom Construction PLC was demerged and separately listed as a pure-play construction and engineering company in 2015, separating it from OCI N.V. (the fertilizer and chemicals business also controlled by Nassef Sawiris). Today, Orascom Construction focuses on engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracting.
Key Projects and Operations
Orascom Construction has built some of Egypt’s most significant infrastructure, including the Suez Canal expansion facilities, major power plants, and large fertilizer complexes. In the United States, the company operates through BESIX Group (joint venture) and other subsidiaries focused on industrial and infrastructure construction. The company also has significant operations in Iraq, Algeria, and the UAE.