High-end London department store Harrods apologised on Friday over allegations its former owner, Egyptian billionaire businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, raped and sexually assaulted at least 37 female ex-employees.

A BBC documentary and podcast heard testimony from over 20 former female workers who said Al Fayed, who died last year aged 94, sexually abused them, with incidents taking place in London, Paris, St Tropez and Abu Dhabi.

One of the women who accused Al Fayed of raping her when she was a teenager described him as a "monster": "He actively cultivated fear."

According to the BBC documentary, which aired on Thursday, Harrods failed to intervene, and helped to cover up abuse allegations during Al Fayed's ownership between 1985 and 2010. All the women the BBC spoke to said they felt intimidated at work.

"We are utterly appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed," Harrods said in a statement. "These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power."

"We also acknowledge that during this time his victims were failed and for this we sincerely apologise," Harrods said, adding the department store was today a "very different organisation" to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed.

In 2009, prosecutors decided not to charge Al Fayed over a claim he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in his store, saying there was "no realistic prospect of conviction".

He voluntarily attended a police interview under caution and has always denied the allegations. (Reuters)