From Palaces to Mega Mansions: Inside The Gulf Royalty’s Homes

When it comes to lavishness, opulence, and the glittering world of unmatched wealth, Gulf countries are home to some of the wealthiest moguls and royals.

With all that money, they like to splurge on everything from art to luxurious cars. But that’s not all, as they happen to have an avid love for expensive mansions, and these are the ones that deserve a mention.

Chateau Louis XIV ($300 Million)

Among a gold-leafed fountain, marble statues, and an exquisite hedged labyrinth taking over a 57-acre landscaped park stands tall the Chateau Louis XIV, one that Fortune magazine called “The world’s most expensive home,” back in 2015.

Today, Antilia, the 27-storey personal skyscraper of Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani takes the helm as the most expensive private house in the world.

Now, back to Chateau Louis XIV. Did you know that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bought this mansion in 2015? It is just one among a list of extravagant acquisitions, including a $500 million yacht and a $450 million Leonardo da Vinci painting.

To the naked eye, the mansion appears to have been built during the time of Versailles, but it turns out that it was erected in 2009 by Saudi businessman Emad Khashoggi.

The coolest things about the property are its wine cellar and movie theater, as well as its rotunda, which features a fresco on the ceiling. Its moat has a transparent underwater chamber with koi swimming overhead.

Alwaleed Palace ($130 Million)

Probably one of the richest men in the world, Prince Al Waleed bin Talal has an estimated net worth of about $20 billion. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he owns not just one but three palaces.

The one he truly calls home is the Kingdom Palace, a 250,000-square-foot palace featuring 317 rooms with Italian marble, oriental carpets, and even 250 televisions. It also houses a 120-acre “farm and resort” that boasts a mini zoo, horse stables, and much more.

There is endless aplomb in every corner. Even the kitchen is unexpected, as the personal chefs inside can feed 2,000 people at such an hour’s notice. Not only that, they aren’t all in the same kitchen; instead, they are spread over four kitchens, each serving a different cuisine.

Inverinate Lodge

More than 35 years ago, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, made a major purchase by nabbing the 63,000-acre Inverinate Lodge at the Scottish hills.

It was originally built in 1864, but because of a fire, it was rebuilt in 1929. The new mansion boasts 16 new bedrooms, an interconnected swimming pool, and leisure facilities.

Inside the estate is a 14-bedroom manor house and a 16-bedroom guest house, making it quite spacious. Located in the Scottish Highlands, rugged peaks packed with towering trees and a glistening lake surround the mansion, offering the ultimate respite among nature.

Cornwall Terrace Mega Mansion ($250 Million)

Moza bint Nasser, named as one of Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women, is a royal figure who has been spearheading social and educational reform in Qatar. Along with that, she is quite the wealthy royal figure and knows how to spend her money on luxury.

Back in 2014, she bought three adjacent houses in London for a total of 191 British Pounds.

Then came the Qatari royal family, who combined the three homes to create a mega-mansion. The special mansion was designed by Decimus Burton, known as the famous protégé of John Nash, the mastermind behind Buckingham Palace.

Dudley House

Also joining the London crowd, Qatari sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani had his eyes set on an aristocratic townhouse in London, the 44,000-square-foot Dudley House. He managed to buy it and restore it to its former glory.

Because of its massive space, it is considered more than 42 times bigger than the average minimum size of a three-bedroom house of a UK home, making it a very unique addition to the real estate space across London.

With all these mansions, it is proven how much expectations can be defied when it comes to the interiors, exteriors, and endless possibility of a multi-million home by a wealthy Arab.

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