Egyptian official sources yesterday confirmed that the Ministry of Interior is investigating a recent report that a Saudi businessman has been kidnapped by unidentified people on the Cairo-Ismailia Desert Road. Investigations are under way to arrest the kidnappers and find the victim unharmed.

The Security Director of Ismailia Major General Ali Azzazi told Asharq Al-Awsat that he received information yesterday informing him that unknown kidnappers had kidnapped Saudi businessman Hassan Ali Ahmed Al-Sanad who is 70 years of age on Monday evening. The kidnapping took place on the Cairo-Ismailia Desert Road in an area of mesmerising beauty situated in north-east Cairo. He added that criminal investigators found the Saudi businessman’s car which had been smashed and its doors were left open.

According to the preliminary investigation, the victim is a Saudi investor working in Egypt who owns farms and juice companies. He came to Cairo to participate in meetings for the board of directors of the companies that he owns and was kidnapped after the meetings ended.