UAE billionaire who built Gleneagles 'ghost' golf course puts 639-acre site up for sale

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 12:33 EDT, 14 September 2026 | Updated: 12:35 EDT, 14 September 2026 The UAE billionaire who built the 639-acre Gleneagles golf course has put it up for sale. The huge site was built by Mahdi al-Tajir almost 20 years ago and has been dubbed a 'ghost' resort as only he and his family and a few special guests have used it.Celebrated architect David McLay Kidd once described it as 'the best inland site I've ever seen for a golf course' but very few have ever had the opportunity to tee up on it. The resort, also known as gWest, is located in Blackford, in Perthshire, Scotland, and extends to around 7,300 yards and includes an 18-hole championship course and clubhouse shell.It was billed as one of the biggest leisure complexes in Europe and the largest in Scotland with plans to outshine its prestigious five-star neighbour Gleneagles.The al-Tajir family, who also own Highland Spring, had high hopes for the £500million scheme when it was launched, promising more than 1,000 jobs and a huge boost to the economy.But most of the plans did not materialise with global recession, Scottish independence referendum of 2014 and then Brexit blamed for the project grinding to a halt.Now independent property consultancy Knight Frank is inviting offers for the estate which includes planning consent for up to 170 residential plots, a hotel and spa, leisure and entertainment facilities and staff accommodation. Gleneagles is a 639-acre golf course in Blackford, in Perthshire, Scotland. It includes an 18-hole championship course and clubhouse shell Highland Spring owner Mahdi Al-Tajir is one of Scotland's richest menEuan Kelly, partner at Knight Frank Edinburgh, told The Times that gWest as a 'once-in-a lifetime asset' and said the company is expecting 'a huge amount of interest from across the globe'.Located in one of Scotland's best-known golf and leisure corridors, Mr Kelly said: 'It is incredibly rare that an opportunity like gWest becomes available.'We're expecting a huge amount of interest from across the globe in what could be a once-in-a-lifetime asset: a substantial consented resort development site, with a golf course designed by a celebrated architect, on the Scotland's most prestigious leisure locations.'He added: 'While the bold ambitions for the site have yet to fully come to fruition, a sale could see them take an important step forward and add another destination to Scotland's, and Perthshire's, strong tourist offering.'The estate was developed by the family of business leader and former UAE ambassador to the UK Mahdi Al Tajir.The golf course was completed in 2009 and initial plans also included a six-star hotel and luxury properties valued at up to £3million.But several factors creating uncertainty for the future including the financial crisis meant plans did not fully progress.Only a few golfers have had the opportunity to play the course, including Swedish professional Henrik Stenson, Scottish European Tour professionals David Drysdale and Peter Whiteford as well as Dean Robertson's University of Stirling team. The golf course was completed in 2009 and initial plans also included a six-star hotel and luxury properties valued at up to £3millionScotland is home to approximately 560 courses, which amounts to around one-fifth of the total in the UK.The industry generated revenues of around £2.7billion in 2024-25, which is expected to have increased to £3billion in 2025-26.Al-Tajir was the first United Arab Emirates ambassador to the UK and also has a residence near Stirling. Keir House is an 18,000-acre estate which is protected as a category A listed building. Al-Tajir is also the owner of the bottled water company Highland Spring. In 2010 he was named as one of Scotland's richest men with a wealth of £1.6billion.