Qatari sheikh plots sale of London homes

A Qatari sheikh whose son is bidding for Manchester United is thinking about selling two West London properties for a total of £370m.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani – known as the ‘man who bought London’ – is planning to sell his One Hyde Park penthouse in Knightsbridge for £220m as well as a property near Belgrave Square for £150m.

It is understood the sheikh, who has a net worth of around £892m, could decide not to sell if bidders snub his hefty asking prices, Bloomberg reported. 

Between 2000 and 2013, the 63-year-old billionaire oversaw a series of high-profile investments in the capital, including Harrods and the Shard. 

His son Sheik Jassim, 44, recently made a last-ditch fourth offer for Manchester United.

A friend of King Charles, Al Thani was embroiled in a royal scandal last year after it emerged he donated £2.5m in cash to the then-prince in cash between 2011 and 2015.

Clarence House said donations from the sheikh were passed immediately to one of Charles’s charities and all processes were above board.