The emir of Dubai owns a 63,000-acre estate in Scotland, but the sheikh has only visited his multimillion-dollar estate five times in 20 years because it didn’t have enough bedrooms
Dubai’s billionaire ruler has expanded his vast 63,000-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands to include ten luxury properties, a hunting lodge and three helicopter pads. However, he has visited the meditation center only five times in the past two decades because it lacked accommodation facilities.Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the 76-year-old Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAW), whose wealth is estimated at £14.6 billion ($19.7 billion), bought the huge “inverinat west manor Ross‘ More than two decades ago, it sold for about £2 million ($2.7 million). Despite the estate’s vast size, royal family members’ visits were restricted because there apparently weren’t enough bedrooms.Although the estate already includes a 14-bedroom holiday home, a 16-bedroom luxury hunting lodge with swimming pool and gym, a self-contained cottage and staff quarters, accommodation issues remain. The royal family’s total number of properties has increased to 10 with more than 58 bedrooms after approval was given for a new 15-bedroom guest cottage.
The challenges of accommodating a member of the royal entourage like the Sheikh
Architects working for the Sheikh who built Godolphin Racecourse said the new building was necessary. The billionaire typically travels with a large group that includes multiple wives, 23 children, extended family members, bodyguards and staff.Inverness-based Colin Armstrong Architects wrote in a planning document: “The owners of Inverinate Estate will often travel with a large group of immediate and extended family and friends.”He added: “In recent years, their travel to Inverinate has been limited by a lack of accommodation. Additional staff accommodation was completed in 2017 to create infrastructure to support owners to make greater use of the estate, and this new application aims to create residential accommodation for owners, their families and guests so that they can visit Inverinate more frequently and for longer periods of time.“The newest 15-bedroom cottage features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Loch Duich, a large conservatory, a spacious dining room and a large living room that can accommodate dozens of guests at a time.The estate has also faced strong opposition to its expansion. The planning application, submitted through Chiefs Corporation, Smech Properties Ltd and Smech Management, was opposed by local residents, conservation groups and local churches. A planned nine-bedroom cottage called Ptarmigan had to be temporarily vacated and moved further away from neighboring properties after residents raised concerns about privacy and impact on the surrounding landscape.
Sheikh has 58 rooms
Locals say the buildings look like a hotel
Some residents say large hotels and buildings are ruining the Highlands’ beautiful landscape.In a formal objection to Highland Council, architectural designer Jonathan Mennie wrote: “The project currently proposed looks like a tourist hotel – in fact all five buildings taken together transform a picturesque manor house and a sympathetic hotel into what looks like a hotel development in the guise of a ‘private residence’.”Other local residents said the scale of the buildings and light pollution affected the normally dark Highland skies.According to the British “Mirror”, local resident Ms. Tina Macleod wrote in her objection: “According to the site plan, the sheer size of this huge building will dwarf the existing church building by at least twice.”She added: “A building of this size is expected to produce disgusting light pollution and a building of this size is likely to generate excessive noise which will make my family’s life a living nightmare during construction and once occupied.” The visual impact of the “palace” in an area like this is downright ugly and I’m not convinced that the fussy design of the proposed development is appropriate for the area.“Macleod also questioned the reasons for building so many new properties: “One must ask why Smech Ltd planned to build so many large stand-alone buildings for accommodation on the site of Inverinate Lodge. Will this traditional Highland estate become yet another playground for the wealthy, with little benefit to the local community?”
private flight center
Although the sheikh himself rarely visits the estate, it has become a major destination for private jets. Inverness Estate is one of the busiest domestic destinations for private flights operated by Inverness Airport.Over three years, 29 private departures and 42 private arrivals were recorded in connection with the estate. Flight records also show three planes arriving and four taking off, connecting the Scottish estate directly to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.Local resident Roddy Macleod said most of the buildings were vacant for most of the year and were used mainly by company employees rather than royal family members.“I’ve only been up five times in the 30-plus years I’ve been here,” McLeod told the News & Journal.They added: “Other guests would come from time to time, such as his London and airline staff. No one realized what a great building it would be. He seemed determined to keep doing it. It was a real pressure.”Occasional visits from the royal family have also attracted the attention of Transport Scotland. The agency expressed concern about the damage Sheikh’s large convoy could cause on the area’s narrow rural roads and requested a formal study into the overall traffic impact.Smech Properties Ltd replied that the estate would never be open to the public. “The proposed cabins are for the use of the current landowner and guests only. They will not be rented out for visitor use. As with the current cabins, there will be very few occupancies. “It is unoccupied for most of the year,” the company said, adding that most visitors arrive by helicopter or private bus and there are six 4×4 vehicles on site available for filming parties.
Charity?
Although the new building’s appearance has been criticized, the Al Maktoum family has won over many locals through community investment and charity work. The chief paid £250,000 to build community centers in Inverinate and Loch Duich, while his management company donated £30,000 to local affordable housing projects.The Al Maktoum Foundation also funds a local police treatment centre, donates land for a day care facility, supports sheltered housing and establishes the Al Maktoum Library in the center of Castlebrai. The estate also regularly provides free wild venison to elderly residents.These contributions won the support of local leaders, who saw the estate as an important part of the rural economy.Local councilor Biz Campbell said: “The helipad was only used when families came over. Otherwise it was dead quiet. “He was brilliant for our community – I wish there were more people like him.”
