The House of Maktoum makes the rich seem poor, opulence seems ordinary, and millions of dollars seem minuscule. Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the current ruler of Dubai, and his family are the wealthiest in Dubai, with a net worth of $18 billion. The head of the family leads an extraordinary life with six spouses and 23 children. Nothing is ordinary about them, be it their home, hobbies, and events. It is a lesser-known fact that Sheikh Maktoum’s first wedding set a Guinness World Record for the ‘Most Expensive Wedding.’ The month-long extravaganza cost $100 million, with a specially created stadium for the nuptials. He has been the absolute ruler of the Emirate for the last 17 years, succeeded by heir apparent Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Listed below are jaw-dropping details of Dubai’s illustrious House of Maktoum’s animal-loving, art-crazy, and luxury-laden life.
The persons behind the persona-Contrary to popular belief that royals are born with diamond-studded spoons, Sheikh Mohammed, the third of four sons of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, was a prince but not princely. Way before the glitzy hotels, ginormous man-made islands and sky kissing skyscrapers, Dubai was but a humble and put it simply a sleepy fishing village.
Hard to believe, but the sheik grew up in a house without any electricity during his early years, and the large family sometimes had to sleep together in one room with a fan. Even then, over a hundred people lived in his house, including guards and slaves.
The same cannot be said for his sons Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan and his younger brother Mansoor bin Mohammed Almaktoum. By 1966, Dubai struck oil and development took place at breakneck speed. In the following years, Dubai transformed into a modern city and commercial hub. The princes were born into wealth and lived lavishly. They began their journey at Dubai’s prestigious Rashid School for Bo. They later moved to the UK to attend Sandhurst – a top training college for British military officers favored by Middle Eastern royals.
The businesses that create the billions-With great wealth comes great responsibility, and Sheikh Mohammed sure is both- responsible and ultra-wealthy. The 73-year-old Emirati politician is described as “one of the world’s most prominent real estate developers. The one-man army is the force behind the changing face of Abu Dhabi as a global city akin to Dubai. His government-owned enterprises include Emirates Airline, DP World, and the Jumeirah Group.
Dubai Holding holds some of these. Sheikh Mohammed is also the visionary behind the Palm Islands, the iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel, and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
The Emirates Group founded in 1985, comprises Dnata, and the largest airline in the Middle East, Emirates Airline, that flies to over 150 destinations. The award winning airline is often touted as the most luxurious in the world with its aircrafts offer private suites and onboard shower spas to its first class passengers.
The immensely successful enterprise boasts a turnover of approximately $28.3 billion and employs over 105,000 employees across the world. Emirates declared to have closed the 2023 financial year with an exceptional level of cash assets of $ 10.2 billion, 79% higher compared to 31 March 2022.
Where do the royals reside?Dubai’s king, queens, princes, and princesses live in an enormous $2 billion palace that is 27 times bigger than the White House. Spread across 1.5 million square feet, the palace covers an area of approximately 44 hectares. Conjuring the royal family are enthusiastic animal lovers; their home features a private zoo, home to exotic animals, including tigers, lions, giraffes, and elephants. The colossal residence parades a large swimming pool enveloped by perfectly manicured gardens and palm trees. In addition to comfortably housing the royals, the palace has a banquet hall for 1,000 guests and a private cinema that can seat 80 people.
Zabeel Palace is an inspiring feat of design and architecture, flaunting 22-carat gold accents, 200 chandeliers, and marble imported from 13 different countries. Outside, the marvels are plenty, such as a Tennis court and several horse stables for the accomplished equestrians who ride the finest Arabian horses in the world.
They are owners of several properties in the UK –Putting the billions of the wealthy Maktoum clan into perspective is their vast real estate portfolio. The owner of the world’s most successful thoroughbred horse racing stables named Godolphin stables purchased a $100 million Surrey estate with 63,000 acres of land. He bought the storied Longcross Estate in the 1990s to escape the sweltering Dubai. Another $60 million were invested in Dalham Hall in 2009 to use as a stud farm close to the Newmarket racetrack.
Nearly two decades ago, Sheikh Mohammed bought the Highland estate in Wester Ross for $3 million. The excellent property is no less than a palace with 58 bedrooms, a triple helipad, and a 16-bedroom luxury hunting lodge. HH Sheikh Mohammed’s portfolio includes several apartments in the One Hyde Park development in London.
Outside the UK, the Maktoum family owns a string of properties in France, including a large estate near Chantilly. They unwind in a Swiss chalet in the exclusive ski resort of Verbier and live in their own palace when visiting Amman, Jordan. Regarding holiday homes, Sheikh Mohammed and his family vacation in their holiday palace in the city of Tangier, Morocco.
Stunning and splendid superyachts –Are you even a royal if you don’t have palaces on land, air, and sea? The regal Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates owns several yachts like Dubawi and Smeralda. But the ones most noteworthy are the $400 million Dubai and $180 million megayacht Quattroelle, a floating Burj Al-Arab owned by the Crown Prince.
The 531-footer Dubai boasts 50 lavish guest rooms, a disco, a squash court, and a swimming pool embedded with fiber optic lights.
The eight-decker sleeps 115 guests across its 88 cabins and is staffed by a crew of around 90 people. Lurssen Quattroelle is a humongous ship that dedicates an entire deck to her royal owner while accommodating 12 guests in 6 luxury cabins.
Palatial private jets-Billionaires have private jets, but the affluent ruler of Dubai owns a fleet of private jets. The Boeing 747-400, aka the Dubai Air Wing One, is used for personal and official travel. The expansiveness, luxurious amenities, and state-of-the-art technology make it the numero uno choice of Sheikh Mohammed and his family on international trips.
Interiors are sheathed in secrecy for obvious reasons, but it goes without saying that the world’s largest private jet usually includes a main bedroom with a full-sized king bed and en suite. Expect walk-in showers and a vanity with a mirror flanked with expensive toiletries.
The main lounge is located upstairs, next to the salon for the royal children. Other areas include a private office that doubles as a formal dining area, meeting and conference rooms, and several guest cabins. Sounds outrageously extravagant, right? Sheikh Mohammed’s other private jets reportedly include a Boeing 737 and a Gulfstream G650.
While we were on the topic of travel, Princess Haya and Sheikh Mohammed loved traveling together during happier days. They once spent an unbelievable $3 million on strawberries and splurged a whopping $850,000 on a summer vacation in Italy. The couple racked up a hefty hotel bill of $311,000 in Greece. The Dubai ruler had to pay his U.K.-based ex-wife a whopping $700 million in divorce settlement making it one of the most expensive divorce settlements in British history.
The royals are art lovers-The Zabeel Palace walls give a clear indication that the House of Maktoum appreciates fine art. The opulent walls showcase an excellent art collection, including works by famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Auguste Rodin. Outside the palace walls, this penchant is witnessed at the Etihad Museum, which comprises works from the private collection of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. 20th-century Arab art is highlighted through works by Dia Azzawi, Baya Mahieddine, Naziha Selim, Abdul Qader Al Rais, and Fateh Moudarres.
An innate love for horses and horse racing –Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a prominent racehorse owner and breeder known for his passion for horses, a trait shared by his son, Crown Prince Mohammed Al Maktoum, affectionately known as Fazza. Their breeding operations are counted among the most successful in the world, with the firm Godolphin Stables recording over 5,000 winners worldwide since its inception in 1992.
Their love for animals shines through the state-of-the-art facilities and high-quality care bestowed on the horses. Huge investments in technology and equipment ensure the health and well-being of its horses.
Other stud farms that Dubai’s royal family own are Darley Stud in Newmarket, England, Jonabell Farm in Kentucky, USA, and Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland.