Billionaire Ruler of Dubai Expanding Highland Estate for Visiting Family
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the billionaire ruler of Dubai, has submitted plans to Highland Council to extend his Highland estate and create more space for visiting family members. The 74-year-old Sheikh, with an estimated fortune of £14 billion, purchased the 63,000-acre Inverinate Estate in Wester Ross over two decades ago.
The picturesque Highland retreat already boasts impressive amenities, including helipads, two large homes, a hunting lodge, a pool, and a gym. However, with a desire to accommodate additional visitors, Sheikh Mohammed wishes to extend the existing 17-bedroom Lochview House on the estate.
The expansion plans entail adding two more bedrooms, a larger kitchen and laundry room, as well as additional storage areas. A design statement from the sheikh’s representatives states that the proposed extension aims to provide necessary accommodation while minimizing its impact on the environment and ongoing activities. The plan seeks to maintain the existing building form, utilizing the same materials and gable massing that seamlessly blend with the landscape.
Local authorities are expected to make a decision on the planning application by next month.
This isn’t the first time Sheikh Mohammed has faced opposition in expanding his Highland estate. In 2020, he won a planning battle to build a six-bedroom lodge on the estate, despite objections from locals who claimed it would harm the area’s natural beauty. The Scottish Government ultimately granted permission, under the condition that the sheikh contribute to affordable housing in the region.
Last year, the billionaire ruler also received approval to construct a luxury ‘garden room’ overlooking Loch Duich.
The news about Sheikh Mohammed’s estate expansion comes on the heels of a recent court ruling in London, which ordered him to pay his former wife, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, a staggering £554 million in what has become Britain’s largest divorce settlement. The judge instructed the Sheikh to provide an initial lump sum of £251.5 million for the security and well-being of Princess Haya and their two children within three months.
It remains to be seen how the Highland Council will respond to the Sheikh’s latest application. The ongoing development of his estate has drawn attention from locals and authorities alike, highlighting the delicate balance between preserving the natural beauty of the area and catering to the desires of a prominent global figure.
