Soares family
| Company type | Family foundation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking, transportation, agriculture, construction |
| Founded | 1857 |
| Founder | Raphael Soares, Youssef Soares, Felix Soares |
| Headquarters | Alexandria , Egypt |
| Products | Banking institutions, railways, sugar production, passenger vehicles |
The Suares family was a Sephardic Jewish lineage that established roots in Egypt. The trio of brothers—Raphael, Youssef, and Felix—rose to prominence within the political and economic arenas of Egypt and were the founders of the Suares Foundation in 1857. They were instrumental in the creation of multiple banking institutions and partnered with other notable Jewish families such as the Qatawi family and the Rollo family to influence Egypt’s economic landscape.
Family
Originating from Portuguese Sephardic descent, the Soares family settled in Egypt during the early 1800s and acquired French nationality. This family consisted of five brothers and their progeny, who played a vital role in shaping the Egyptian economy through significant ownership interests and executive positions across various enterprises. The family patriarch passed away in 1848, with other distinguished members dying between 1861 and 1905.
Among the notable individuals was Alice Sawaris, who became linked to Egypt’s royal circles through her marriage to Youssef Qatawi Pasha. Leon Soares, son of Felix, oversaw major landholding firms including the Sheikh Fadl Land Company and the Kom Ombo Valley Company. Following his father’s demise, Leon took over leadership roles at the National Bank and the Egyptian Land Bank, perpetuating the family's influence in finance.
Although the Sawaris family generally avoided active participation in Jewish communal affairs, Edgar Sawaris held the presidency of Alexandria’s Jewish community from 1914 to 1917.
Family contributions
In 1875, the Sawas family founded the Sawas Foundation, a key player in transportation and construction sectors. This foundation gave rise to various enterprises encompassing railways, sugar production companies, and entertainment ventures.
Banks
The Sawaris Bank was established by the family in 1880 and later reconstituted on August 10, 1936. Headquartered in Alexandria with branches in Cairo and Tanta, it primarily catered to cotton trading and insurance businesses. By July 1943, its capital had reached 100 thousand pounds under the leadership of Jack Najjar. Prominent personalities involved included Carlos Soares, Freddie Sachs, and Youssef Qatawi.
Raphael Soares collaborated with British financier Sir Ernest Cassel to launch the National Bank of Egypt on June 25, 1898, initially funded with one million British pounds. The bank adapted alongside Egypt’s evolving economic and political environment. During the 1950s, it undertook central banking responsibilities; following nationalization in the 1960s, it shifted focus toward commercial banking while continuing some central bank functions and managing government investment certificates.
Another historic financial institution co-founded by Mousa Qatawi, Raphael Soares, and Robert Rollo was the Egyptian Land Bank (1880), which started with capital of 40 million French francs and expanded to 8 million pounds by 1942. It remains one of Egypt’s oldest banking establishments.
A prominent urban landmark was once named “Soares Square” in honor of the family until it was renamed Mustafa Kamel Square in 1939.
Land transportation
The Sawaris family launched “Sawaris Passenger Vehicles,” which gained recognition for their distinctive Sawaris wagons.
Helwan Railway in Egypt
A royal decree in 1870 initiated the Helwan Railway project to enhance connectivity between Cairo and Helwan, with construction finalized by 1877. In 1899, Khedive Abbas Helmy II officially opened a new bathhouse constructed by the Egypt-Helwan Railway Company, which was leased to the "George Nungovich" firm. Abbas Helmy also held board memberships in both the Fayoum Railway Company and the Delta Railway Board, the latter overseeing operations of the Helwan-Bab El Louk route.
After the establishment of Hammam Helwan in 1874, Khedive Ismail extended the railway line from Tora to Helwan, marking the inaugural train journey in 1877. Nevertheless, Egypt’s financial turmoil in 1879 and the subsequent deposition of Khedive Ismail caused government withdrawal from Helwan railway endeavors, limiting service frequency to just two trips daily.
Once conditions stabilized, a private consortium including Moses Musiri, members of the Qatawi family, and the Sawaris family secured the Helwan concession in 1888. This group founded the “Metropolitan and Cairo-Helwan Railway” company in 1890 with a capital investment of £120,000 and expanded the line from Tora to Bab El Louk. The first train on this extended route operated on November 1, 1889. In 1891, authorization was granted for a branch line from Helwan station to the Nile adjacent to Khedive Tawfiq Palace to facilitate yacht access.
By 1904, the Metropolitan Company was absorbed into the Egyptian Delta Railway Company, resulting in all Helwan railway assets transferring to Delta Railway.
Delta Railway
Established in 1890, this enterprise developed multiple rail connections including routes from Assiut to Girga, Damanhour to Al-Rahmaniyah, Shebin al-Kom to Menouf, and between Fayoum and Sinorus. Upon completion of these lines, ownership passed to the Egyptian government under a profit-sharing agreement spanning two decades.
In 1895, an extension connected Qena with Aswan.
Eastern Railway
The Eastern Economic Railway Company was founded in 1896 as part of Egypt’s railway expansion efforts. Eventually, it was sold to the Delta Railway Company and merged with the Helwan Railway Company.
Agricultural Ventures
The Sawaris family financed construction of the Aswan reservoir and collaborated with Castle and the Qatawi family to acquire a vast expanse of 300,000 acres within Sunni Circle lands. These were subsequently resold to prominent landowners and real estate enterprises. In 1897, Sawaris partnered with French investors to launch the All Egyptian Sugar and Refining Factories Company, which later merged into the Wadi Kom Ombo Joint Stock Company by 1905. This project represented one of Egypt’s largest agricultural joint ventures involving companies such as Qatawi, Sawaris, Rollo, and Manasseh.
The Sawaris family possessed significant agricultural and construction properties in central Cairo, including Sawaris Square (currently Mostafa Kamel). They purchased the Sheikh Fadl inspection office in 1892 along with lands in Badrashin and established the Sunni Department Company in 1898. This enterprise acquired prime farmland totaling 300,000 acres for six million four hundred thousand Egyptian pounds, effectively covering debts related to their land holdings.
Swars Wagons
“Swars” referred to wooden passenger carts drawn by mules or horses prevalent in late 19th-century Cairo. Also known as “Emnibus,” these vehicles offered an efficient alternative to individual donkey or mule rides. The term “Suares” originated from passengers identifying the owner by his distinctive fez hat, yellow suit, and copper nameplate. The fare for riding these carts was three millimes.
The arrival of swaras disrupted traditional Karoo vehicle transportation systems. Multiple routes operated simultaneously, including lines running from the Citadel to Al-Hussein via Maghreblin and Mutawali Gate; from Citadel to Sayyida Zeinab passing through Observed Basin and Pharaoh's Pool; as well as from Our Lady to Al-Hussein.
Movies
Swaris vehicles have become emblematic on the streets of Cairo and hold a significant place in the annals of Egyptian film. A prominent instance is the phrase spoken by actress Amal Zayed portraying Sitt Amina in Bain Al-Kasserine, which underscores their cultural significance during that era.
See also
References
- Encyclopedia of Jews, Judaism, and Zionism (p. 384)
- History of the Jews in Egypt (p. 240)