Saudi princess failed to pay bills, shopkeepers claim

Saudi princess Maha Al Sudairi has been accused of failing to pay her bills in French boutiques. The unhappy French shopkeepers in question have gathered outside the luxury Hotel George V where the princess is staying. By FRANCE 24 (text)
FRANCE 2 / Shona BHATTACHARYYA (video) Saudi Arabian princess Maha Al Sudairi is a well-known figure in French luxury boutiques. Spending 140,000 Euros on clothing and a further 30,000 a week on dry cleaning is not a big deal for her.

She loves Paris - but the city’s high-end shop owners have accused her of robbing them. Al Sudairi has allegedly failed to pay her bills in the last few months.


“We built a trusting commercial relationship,” said shopkeeper Jamila Boushaba, who alleges Al Sadairi bought clothing and accessories worth 70,000 Euros but failed to pay her dues.


The princess, who also has a soft spot for jewelery, promised to pay one jeweller 60,000 euros but never came up with the cash.


Al Sudairi allegedly owes hundreds of thousands of Euros to tens of shopkeepers, who’ve filed a law suit against her.

“Why doesn't she pay? I'd like to know that”, demanded Jacky Benazerah, the shop owners’ lawyer.


"Maybe she believes she's above the law or that her status will protect her. Or maybe her husband decided to stop paying for her shopping sprees,” she added.



Al Sudairi is currently staying in her room at the luxury Hotel George V in central Paris, which is owned by her nephew.

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The shopping doesn't stop for Princess Maha al-Sudairi of Saudi Arabia. Her Royal Highness caused a stir in Paris last year after she allegedly ran up bills totaling more than $15 million at 30 stores, including $75,000 at a lingerie shop. Now, Princess Maha, whose husband, Prince Nayef, is interior minister and second-in-line to the Saudi throne, is spreading her oil wealth in New York. She bought about $20,000 worth of glassware and silverware -- in sets of up to 100 pieces -- from the gift shop D. King Irwin on West 34th Street, where they're still talking about it. The princess, accompanied by three bodyguards, tried to bargain with manager Jeffrey Dalgliesh to no avail, according to the buzz at Da Tommaso restaurant, and she paid by credit card.



Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/saudi_princess_pays_retail_nUqnv6EvJNHXAIZCQ0ZJ2L#ixzz1E2KeDxtl


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Princess Maha al-Sudairi of Saudi Arabia. Her Royal Highness, in Paris, spent $15 million at 30 stores, including $75,000 at a lingerie shop. Her husband, Prince Nayef, interior minister and second-in-line to the Saudi throne, is spreading her petrol wealth in New York.

She bought about $20,000 worth of glassware and silverware -- in sets of up to 100 pieces -- from the gift shop D. King Irwin on West 34th Street, where they're still talking about it. The princess, accompanied by three bodyguards, tried to bargain with manager Jeffrey Dalgliesh to no avail, according to the buzz at Da Tommaso restaurant, and she paid by credit card.

But that's just dish. The real buying spree was far more nefarious. Princess Maha Al-Sudairi is here to buy several fashion and luxury fashion brands headquartered in New York including Tory Burch, Yigal Azrouel, Narcisco Rodriguez, and newcomers Alexander Wang and Phillip Lim.

In 1995, Princess Maha Al-Sudairi, wife of the heir to the Saudi throne, reportedly beat a servant suspected of stealing cash and jewelry in front of deputies providing off-duty security for the princess. The deputies were later disciplined for not stopping the beating, not writing a report about the beating and not investigating a tip that another servant had been beaten.

Saudi Princess eyes investment in American luxury brands
New York, Aug 06 : Saudi Princess Maha al-Sudairi visited New York not just for shopping and sightseeing but also with a purpose of investing in American luxury brands.

According to sources, the Saudi royal family has been here for several weeks looking to invest in American luxury brands.

Princess Al-Sudairi retained the services of fashion consultant Malcolm Harris to help them invest in or buy several brands headquartered in New York.

The brands included Tory Burch, Yigal Azrouel, Narcisco Rodriguez, and newcomers Alexander Wang and Phillip Lim.

"The idea is to use fashion to bridge the cultural gap," The New York Post quoted Harris as saying.

"There are certain companies that would translate nicely," he added.

Saudi women have a liking for western fashion and prefer wearing them inside their homes.

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Al-Arabiya sacks anchor for Saudi slam
Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:33AM
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Al-Arabiya's sacked anchor Hefez Al MiraziThe Saudi-owned satellite television channel, al-Arabiya, has fired one of its high-profile anchors for wanting to discuss the impact of the Egyptian revolution on Saudi Arabia.


Hefez Al Mirazi was sacked after threatening to quit if he was not allowed to speak about the Kingdom's political situation during the next episode of his program.

Mirazi questioned the Saudi media's ability to do anything about King Abdullah or the Saudi government. He said if al-Arabiya let him do so, it would prove that it was an independent channel.

Al-Arabiya's management, however, refused his request and fired him, instead. Mirazi says he has not yet been officially notified about his sacking. He found it out after his show was aired and rumors filled cyberspace.

Mirazi had been al-Jazeera's correspondent in Washington before moving to al-Arabiya, where he presented the “Cairo Studio” program from the Egyptian capital.