The new must-have for the super-rich...? A Highland holiday home with 3 helipads
AS a man of fabulous wealth, several wives and 23 children, just one spot to land his helicopter would never have been enough.
The billionaire ruler of Dubai has built no fewer than three helipads at his Highland hideaway.
This exclusive picture reveals how the latest development on the horseracing sheikh’s estate in Inverinate, Wester Ross, is something of a step up from a double garage.
The triple helipad site is just a short limo ride from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum’s 14bedroom holiday home – and next door, his new 16-bedroom luxury hunting lodge, with pool and gym. That should allow plenty of space for the sheikh’s wives – three, reportedly – and those 23 children.
The sheikh, who has an estimated £10billion fortune and is founder of the Godolphin racing stable, bought the 63,000-acre estate more than 20 years ago for a reported £2million.
His family visit every summer to escape the 50C Dubai heat. The development had sparked fears for the tranquillity of one of Scotland’s most beautiful areas.
However, Debra Storr, who owns holiday accommodation in the area and had previously raised concerns, said: ‘I live in Aberdeen under the flightpath between the airport and the rigs so I know exactly how loud low-flying helicopters can be.
‘But there’s a time restriction on the flights which totally allayed that fear. I’ve never heard a whisper of anyone having difficulties with it. He’s sensitive to the community.’
The Highland bolthole near Eilean Donan Castle is a far cry from the house in Dubai where the 68-yearold sheikh was born, which had no electricity or running water.
Around Inverinate he is well-liked, employing several local people. He built a community centre, gifted land for a day care centre and sheltered housing and gives venison to the elderly. Local councillor Biz Campbell said: ‘It’s only when the family come that the helipads are used. It’s dead quiet otherwise. He’s been brilliant for our community – I wish there were more like him.’