Qatari Royal Family Owns More London Property Than King Charles

The House of Al-Thani, Qatar's ruling royal family, has amassed a vast real estate empire in London, surpassing the British Royal Family's private property holdings in the city. While King Charles III owns iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace through the Crown Estate as sovereign property held in trust for the nation, these are not personal assets. In contrast, the Al-Thani family privately owns approximately 1.8 million square feet of prime London real estate, especially concentrated in northwest Mayfair, an area now nicknamed 'Little Doha' due to their extensive holdings. Their portfolio includes some of Britain's most expensive private homes, such as a 44,000 square-foot mansion valued at £400 million a decade ago, as well as stakes in prominent London brands and landmarks like Harrods, The Shard, Canary Wharf, and Heathrow Airport. The family's estimated net worth is around £2.4 billion, with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani alone worth about £1.6 billion, dwarfing the British Royal Family's personal wealth. This growing Qatari influence in London's property and business sectors highlights a significant shift in ownership and economic power within the city.