The billionaire Sajwani family has emerged as one of the most influential private property owners in Central London, with Beauchamp Estates describing the UAE-based dynasty as “the Grosvenors of the Gulf” following a series of landmark acquisitions across the capital.
The latest purchase, The Holme in Regent’s Park (main picture), is regarded as one of the most significant super-prime residential deals completed in London for several years and continues a buying spree that has seen the family acquire a growing portfolio of trophy homes in some of the capital’s most prestigious addresses.
According to Beauchamp Estates, the acquisitions mark a notable shift in London’s luxury property market. Historically, the largest Gulf owners of London real estate have been sovereign wealth funds or members of the royal families of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The agency believes the Sajwani family’s emergence represents the first time a privately-owned Gulf family business has established such a significant presence in Central London’s super-prime residential market.
PCL CONFIDENCE BOOST
The purchases also reflect renewed international confidence in Prime Central London, where values remain more than 20% below their 2014 peak in many locations. Combined with sterling’s relative value and growing geopolitical uncertainty, London is once again attracting global investors seeking long-term wealth preservation through prime residential assets.
The Sajwani family’s investments have been driven through DAMAC and Amali Properties, two of the Gulf’s best-known luxury property developers. Alongside expanding their international property interests, the family has continued to increase its exposure to London’s highest-value residential market as demand from overseas buyers strengthens.
Rosy Khalastchy, Director of Beauchamp Estates, says: “The Holme purchase in Regent’s Park is spectacular and one of most important super-prime deals done in London in several years.
“Not a month seems to have gone by over the last year, without another media article about the billionaire Sajwani family of the United Arab Emirates, led by property tycoon Hussain Sajwani, buying yet another mansion or townhouse in London.”
“The Sajwani family have become ‘the Grosvenor’s of the Gulf’”
She adds: “Through their various purchases of trophy property in London’s best addresses the Sajwani family have become ‘the Grosvenor’s of the Gulf’ and became major property owners in Central London. It is quite incredible.
“Previously all the major real estate owners in London from the Gulf have been from the Royal families of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
“This is the first time in London’s history that a Gulf billionaire family, from outside of Royal circles, have become such important players and landowners in the Central London property market. The Sajwanis have become to London, what the Trump family are to New York, major players in the real estate market.”
LONG-TERM STRATEGY
Khalastchy believes the family’s acquisitions demonstrate a long-term investment strategy rather than opportunistic buying, with London’s current pricing presenting a rare opportunity to acquire globally recognised trophy assets.
She says: “Highly respected property developers in the Gulf, with their DAMAC and Amali property companies, the Sajwani family are shrewd property investors. Clearly they see London real estate as providing them with exceptional value at present, with prices over 20% down on their 2014 peak, and bargains to be done and trophy assets acquired at the fraction of price of a few decades ago.
“As with all markets, the property prices in London will rise again, and so the wealth of the Sajwani family will be elevated even further. Its a masterpiece in clever investment strategy.”
The comments come as Beauchamp Estates reports that overseas demand continues to underpin London’s super-prime market, with buyers from the Gulf and the United States accounting for the majority of transactions above £5 million across Mayfair and a substantial proportion of Prime Central London’s luxury residential sales.
