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{{Short description|Bahraini-Emirati businessman (born 1931)}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox officeholder
⚫ | image =
<!--diplomatic-->
⚫ | image_size =
| office = ]
⚫ | name = Mahdi Al Tajir
| caption = | term_start = 1971
⚫ | term_end = 1987
⚫ | birth_name = Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir
| predecessor = position established
⚫ | birth_date = {{bya|1931|12|df=y}}
⚫ | successor =
| president = ]
| office2 = ]
| president2 = ]
| term_start2 = 1971
| term_end2 = 1980
| predecessor2 = position established
| successor2 = ]
<!--Personal-->
⚫ | image =
⚫ | image_size =
⚫ | name = Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir
| caption =
⚫ | birth_name =
⚫ | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1931|12|26}}
| birth_place = Bahrain | birth_place = Bahrain
| death_date = | death_date =
| death_place = | death_place =
| death_cause = | death_cause =
| restingplace = | restingplace =
| nationality = Emirati | nationality = ]
⚫ | residence = London<br /> ], Scotland
⚫ | religion =
⚫ | ethnicity =
⚫ | residence = London<br> ], Scotland
| education = ] | education = ]
| alma mater = | alma mater =
| occupation = | occupation =
| known for = | known for =
| salary = | salary =
| networth = GBP £1.67 billion (STRL, April 2015)<ref name=STRL>{{cite news|title=Sunday Times Rich List|accessdate=26 April 2015|work=The Sunday Times|issue=page 27|date=26 April 2014}}</ref>
| spouse = | spouse =
| parents = | parents =
| children = 5 | children = 6
| relatives = | relatives =
| website = | website =
}} }}


'''Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir''' ({{lang-ar|مهدي التاجر}}) (born December 1931) is an ] businessman based in the United Kingdom. Al Tajir spends much of his time at his London home or at ], his {{convert|18000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Perthshire estate. He has interests in finance and property, and owns the ] bottled water company.<ref name="times-rich">{{Cite news |date=24 April 2010|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/7624159/Sunday-Times-Rich-List-2010-Britains-richest-see-wealth-rise-by-one-third.html|title=Sunday Times Rich List 2010: Britain's richest see wealth rise by one third|work=]}}</ref> '''Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir''' ({{langx|ar|محمد مهدي التاجر}}) (born 26 December 1931) is a ]-] businessman based in the United Kingdom. He was the first ] ambassador to the United Kingdom and non resident ambassador to France.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/rich-list-290855.html?itemid=290906|title=Rich List - Mahdi Al-Tajir|magazine=Arabian Business|date=29 November 2007}}</ref> Al Tajir spends much of his time at his London home or at ], his {{convert|18000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Stirlingshire estate. He has interests in finance and property, and owns the ] bottled water company.<ref name="times-rich">{{Cite news |date=24 April 2010|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/7624159/Sunday-Times-Rich-List-2010-Britains-richest-see-wealth-rise-by-one-third.html|title=Sunday Times Rich List 2010: Britain's richest see wealth rise by one third|work=]}}</ref>


Al Tajir was named one of Scotland's richest man with wealth of £1.72 billion in the ].<ref name="times-rich"/> Al Tajir was named one of Scotland's richest men with wealth of £1.72 billion in the ].<ref name="times-rich"/>


==Life== ==Life==
⚫ ]
⚫ Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir was born in December 1931<ref>https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/DKritUE1DoqKb85k-bLbQCrXCoY/appointments</ref> in Bahrain, and educated at ] in Lancashire.<ref name="richest-arabs"/> Al Tajir is married with five children.<ref name="worlds-billionaires">{{Cite news|year=2008|url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Mahdi-Al-Tajir_SKFI.html|title=The World's Billionaires - #1062 Mahdi Al Tajir|work=]}}</ref> Al Tajir's son, Maher al-Tajir, was found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend at ] in 2009.<ref name="girlfriend-assault">{{Cite news|date=27 October 2009|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/03/27/arab-businessman-ordered-to-pay-500-to-girlfriend-over-assault-86908-21232135/|title=arab-businessman-ordered-to-pay-500-to-girlfriend-over-assault|work=]|location=Scotland}}</ref>


Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir was born in December 1931<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/DKritUE1DoqKb85k-bLbQCrXCoY/appointments|title=Mohammed Mahdi AL TAJIR - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143441/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/DKritUE1DoqKb85k-bLbQCrXCoY/appointments|archive-date=2018-06-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> in Bahrain, and educated at ] in Lancashire.<ref name="richest-arabs"/> Al Tajir is married with five children.<ref name="worlds-billionaires">{{Cite news|year=2008|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Mahdi-Al-Tajir_SKFI.html|title=The World's Billionaires - #1062 Mahdi Al Tajir|work=]}}</ref>
⚫ Al Tajir's 15,000 acre Blackwood estate in ], Scotland is owned by his company Park Tower Holding Establishment, based in the ] of ].<ref name="lairds-lording">{{Cite news |date=13 December 1999|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/199912130025|title=Who are the lairds lording over us?|work=]}}</ref> Al Tajir also owns London's ] at 101 Knightsbridge near ]<ref name="richest-arabs">{{Cite news|date=June 2007|url=http://www.cnbcmagazine.com/story/the-worlds-richest-arabs/111/1/|title=The World's Richest Arabs|work=]}}</ref> and ] in ], which he purchased in 1976 for $1.2 million.<ref>{{cite web|author=Monday, Aug. 02, 1976 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914443-2,00.html |title=BRITAIN: Dinner for 370,000, Please, James |publisher=TIME |date=1976-08-02 |accessdate=2012-02-16}}</ref>


⚫ Al Tajir's 15,000 acre Blackford estate in ], Scotland is owned by his company Park Tower Holding Establishment, based in the ] of ].<ref name="lairds-lording">{{Cite news |date=13 December 1999|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/199912130025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111040555/http://www.newstatesman.com/199912130025|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-01-11|title=Who are the lairds lording over us?|work=]}}</ref> Al Tajir also owns London's ] at 101 Knightsbridge near ]<ref name="richest-arabs">{{Cite news|date=June 2007|url=http://www.cnbcmagazine.com/story/the-worlds-richest-arabs/111/1/|title=The World's Richest Arabs|work=]|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924200353/http://www.cnbcmagazine.com/story/the-worlds-richest-arabs/111/1|archive-date=2011-09-24}}</ref> and ] in ], which he purchased in 1976 for $1.2 million.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914443-2,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024165216/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914443-2,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |title=BRITAIN: Dinner for 370,000, Please, James |magazine=TIME |date=1976-08-02 |access-date=2012-02-16}}</ref>
⚫ ]


In the 1980s, he attempted to broker a peace deal in the Lebanese Civil War with his business partner ].<ref name="richest-arabs"/> In the 1980s, he attempted to broker a peace deal in the Lebanese Civil War with his business partner ].<ref name="richest-arabs"/>


Al Tajir has an extensive collection of silver artifacts and carpets.<ref>''The Glory of the Goldsmith: Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection'', Christie's, 1989, ISBN 0903432366</ref> In 1993 Al Tajir paid the record price for a piece of silver at auction, when he bought a 1736 silver chandelier made by Balthasar Friedrich Behrens for £2.27 million at ] in Monaco.<ref name="grandmother-fraud">{{Cite news|date=7 December 1993|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/prints-fraud-led-by-grandmother-1465939.html|title=Prints fraud led by grandmother|work=]|location=London|first=Dalya|last=Alberge}}</ref> Al Tajir formed a joint venture with ] fine art auction house to open an office in Dubai.<ref name="richest-arabs"/> Al Tajir has an extensive collection of silver artifacts and carpets.<ref>''The Glory of the Goldsmith: Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection'', Christie's, 1989, {{ISBN|0903432366}}</ref> In 1993 Al Tajir paid the record price for a piece of silver at auction, when he bought a 1736 silver chandelier made by Balthasar Friedrich Behrens for £2.27 million at ] in Monaco.<ref name="grandmother-fraud">{{Cite news|date=7 December 1993|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/prints-fraud-led-by-grandmother-1465939.html|title=Prints fraud led by grandmother|work=]|location=London|first=Dalya|last=Alberge}}</ref>
Al Tajir formed a joint venture with ] fine art auction house to open an office in Dubai.<ref name="richest-arabs" />

⚫ Al Tajir's son, Maher al-Tajir, was found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend at ] in 2009.<ref name="girlfriend-assault">{{Cite news|date=27 October 2009|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/03/27/arab-businessman-ordered-to-pay-500-to-girlfriend-over-assault-86908-21232135/|title=arab-businessman-ordered-to-pay-500-to-girlfriend-over-assault|work=]|location=Scotland}}</ref>


==Business career== ==Business career==
Appointed head of customs in Dubai by ] ], he became one of Sheikh Rashid's most trusted advisors and was made the first Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United Kingdom when the UAE was founded in 1971.<ref name="richest-arabs"/> Under a thinly disguised name, Al Tajir's exploits as a negotiator were recorded in the 1976 novel ''Dubai'' by ].<ref name="richest-arabs"/> In 1963 Al Tajir became director of Sheikh Rashid's Petroleum affairs and effectively the most powerful man in Dubai after Sheikh Rashid himself. Al Tajir lost or resigned his position in 1981 with the downfall of Sheikh Rashid's health and the waning of his personal power, with the ascedency of Shekih Rashid's sons. Al Tajir remained UAE ambassador to the United Kingdom until 1987. Appointed head of customs in Dubai by ] ], he became one of Sheikh Rashid's most trusted advisors and was made the first Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United Kingdom when the UAE was founded in 1971.<ref name="richest-arabs"/> Under a thinly disguised name, Al Tajir's exploits as a negotiator were recorded in the 1976 novel ''Dubai'' by ].<ref name="richest-arabs"/>
In 1963, Al Tajir became director of Sheikh Rashid's Petroleum affairs and effectively the most powerful man in Dubai after Sheikh Rashid himself. Al Tajir lost or resigned his position in 1981 with the downfall of Sheikh Rashid's health and the waning of his personal power, with the ascedency of Shekih Rashid's sons. Al Tajir remained UAE ambassador to the United Kingdom until 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Judgement - Dubai Aluminium v. Salaam|url=https://www.ucc.ie/academic/law/restitution/archive/englcases/dubai.htm|access-date=2021-07-13|website=www.ucc.ie}}</ref>

In London in the late 1960s, the Egyptian businessman ] was introduced to Al Tajir by Salim Abu Alwan, an Iraqi businessman.<ref name="Bower">{{cite book|last=Bower|first=Tom|title=Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography|page=|publisher=Macmillan|year=1998|isbn=978-0-333-74554-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/fayedunauthorize00bowe/page/43}}</ref><ref>Bower 1998, p.27.</ref> Al Tajir informed Al-Fayed that Dubai was penniless and needed to borrow £1 million for the future construction of modern harbour facilities.<ref>Bower 1998, p.31.</ref>

Al-Fayed secured a loan of £9 million from Imre Rochlitz, an American lawyer. Rochlitz's Jewish ancestry caused embarrassment to Al Tajir, and later caused Rochlitz to reject Al-Fayed's offer of a formal partnership.<ref>Bower 1998, p.33.</ref> Al-Fayed earned £1.5 million commission from the contract for British engineering company ] to carry out the improvement works to the port. Al-Fayed also assisted with securing the financing for the ].<ref>Bower 1998, p.36.</ref>


In London in the late 1960s, the Egyptian businessman ] was introduced to Al Tajir by Salim Abu Alwan, an Iraqi businessman.<ref name="Bower">{{cite book |last=Bower |first=Tom |title=Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography|page=43|publisher=Macmillan |year=1998|isbn=978-0-333-74554-0}}</ref><ref>Bower 1998, p.27.</ref> Al Tajir informed Al-Fayed that Dubai was penniless and needed to borrow £1 million for the future construction of modern harbour facilities.<ref>Bower 1998, p.31.</ref> Al-Fayed secured a loan of £9 million from Imre Rochlitz, an American lawyer. Rochlitz's Jewish ancestry caused embarrassment to Al Tajir, and later caused Rochlitz to reject Al-Fayed's offer of a formal partnership.<ref>Bower 1998, p.33.</ref> Al-Fayed earned £1.5 million commission from the contract for British engineering company ] to carry out the improvement works to the port. Al-Fayed also assisted with securing the financing for the ].<ref>Bower 1998, p.36.</ref> By the mid 1970s Costain had gained over £280 million of contracts thanks to Al-Fayed and Al Tajir.<ref>Bower 1998, p.50.</ref> Al Tajir's influence in Dubai was waning by 1977, and Al-Fayed was excluded from the commission process for a new aluminium smelter, and the development of ], putting Costain's future profits at risk.<ref>Bower 1998, p.71.</ref> In 1993 Al-Fayed was visited at his department store ] by ], the director of Dubai's Department of Economic Development.<ref>Bower 1998, p.302.</ref> Alabbar had been appointed by ] to eradicate the system of large commission payments from previous decades. Al Tajir was challenged in the British courts to repay his alleged excessive profits earned from the construction of Dubai's aluminum smelter, and Al-Fayed was targeted over his management contract of the ]. By the mid 1970s Costain had gained over £280 million of contracts thanks to Al-Fayed and Al Tajir.<ref>Bower 1998, p.50.</ref> Al Tajir's influence in Dubai was waning by 1977, and Al-Fayed was excluded from the commission process for a new aluminium smelter, and the development of ], putting Costain's future profits at risk.<ref>Bower 1998, p.71.</ref> In 1993 Al-Fayed was visited at his department store ] by ], the director of Dubai's Department of Economic Development.<ref>Bower 1998, p.302.</ref> Alabbar had been appointed by ] to eradicate the system of large commission payments from previous decades. Al Tajir was challenged in the British courts to repay his alleged excessive profits earned from the construction of Dubai's aluminium smelter, and Al-Fayed was targeted over his management contract of the ].


The construction of Dubai's aluminium smelter caused Al Tajir to fall out with Sheikh Rashid’s sons.<ref name="richest-arabs"/> In the judgement of a British court case, Al Tajir conspired to defraud Dubai Aluminium of millions of dollars in connivance with commodities trader ], who owned a neighbouring property in Switzerland.<ref name="richest-arabs"/> The construction of Dubai's aluminium smelter caused Al Tajir to fall out with Sheikh Rashid's sons.<ref name="richest-arabs"/> In the judgement of a British court case, Al Tajir conspired to defraud Dubai Aluminium of millions of US dollars in connivance with commodities trader ], who owned a neighbouring property in Switzerland.<ref name="richest-arabs"/>


Al Tajir owns a glass-bottling company in Dubai and a private bank in the ] of the ].<ref name="richest-arabs"/> Al Tajir owns a glass-bottling company in Dubai and a private bank in the ] of the ].<ref name="richest-arabs"/>
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Latest revision as of 20:44, 2 November 2024

Bahraini-Emirati businessman (born 1931)
Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir
United Arab Emirates Ambassador to United Kingdom
In office
1971–1987
PresidentZayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Preceded byposition established
United Arab Emirates Ambassador to France
In office
1971–1980
PresidentZayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byKhalifa Ahmad Mubarak
Personal details
Born (1931-12-26) December 26, 1931 (age 93)
Bahrain
NationalityEmirati
Children6
Residence(s)London
Keir House, Scotland
EducationPreston Grammar School

Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir (Arabic: محمد مهدي التاجر) (born 26 December 1931) is a Bahrana-Emirati businessman based in the United Kingdom. He was the first United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United Kingdom and non resident ambassador to France. Al Tajir spends much of his time at his London home or at Keir House, his 18,000-acre (73 km) Stirlingshire estate. He has interests in finance and property, and owns the Highland Spring bottled water company.

Al Tajir was named one of Scotland's richest men with wealth of £1.72 billion in the Sunday Times Rich List 2010.

Life

Keir House

Mohammed Mahdi Al Tajir was born in December 1931 in Bahrain, and educated at Preston Grammar School in Lancashire. Al Tajir is married with five children.

Al Tajir's 15,000 acre Blackford estate in Perthshire, Scotland is owned by his company Park Tower Holding Establishment, based in the tax haven of Liechtenstein. Al Tajir also owns London's Sheraton Park Tower Hotel at 101 Knightsbridge near Hyde Park and Mereworth Castle in Kent, which he purchased in 1976 for $1.2 million.

In the 1980s, he attempted to broker a peace deal in the Lebanese Civil War with his business partner Hani Salaam.

Al Tajir has an extensive collection of silver artifacts and carpets. In 1993 Al Tajir paid the record price for a piece of silver at auction, when he bought a 1736 silver chandelier made by Balthasar Friedrich Behrens for £2.27 million at Christie's in Monaco.

Al Tajir formed a joint venture with Bonhams fine art auction house to open an office in Dubai.

Al Tajir's son, Maher al-Tajir, was found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend at Keir House in 2009.

Business career

Appointed head of customs in Dubai by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, he became one of Sheikh Rashid's most trusted advisors and was made the first Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United Kingdom when the UAE was founded in 1971. Under a thinly disguised name, Al Tajir's exploits as a negotiator were recorded in the 1976 novel Dubai by Robin Moore.

In 1963, Al Tajir became director of Sheikh Rashid's Petroleum affairs and effectively the most powerful man in Dubai after Sheikh Rashid himself. Al Tajir lost or resigned his position in 1981 with the downfall of Sheikh Rashid's health and the waning of his personal power, with the ascedency of Shekih Rashid's sons. Al Tajir remained UAE ambassador to the United Kingdom until 1987.

In London in the late 1960s, the Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed was introduced to Al Tajir by Salim Abu Alwan, an Iraqi businessman. Al Tajir informed Al-Fayed that Dubai was penniless and needed to borrow £1 million for the future construction of modern harbour facilities.

Al-Fayed secured a loan of £9 million from Imre Rochlitz, an American lawyer. Rochlitz's Jewish ancestry caused embarrassment to Al Tajir, and later caused Rochlitz to reject Al-Fayed's offer of a formal partnership. Al-Fayed earned £1.5 million commission from the contract for British engineering company Costain to carry out the improvement works to the port. Al-Fayed also assisted with securing the financing for the Dubai World Trade Centre.

By the mid 1970s Costain had gained over £280 million of contracts thanks to Al-Fayed and Al Tajir. Al Tajir's influence in Dubai was waning by 1977, and Al-Fayed was excluded from the commission process for a new aluminium smelter, and the development of Jebel Ali, putting Costain's future profits at risk. In 1993 Al-Fayed was visited at his department store Harrods by Mohammed Alabbar, the director of Dubai's Department of Economic Development. Alabbar had been appointed by Sheikh Maktoum to eradicate the system of large commission payments from previous decades. Al Tajir was challenged in the British courts to repay his alleged excessive profits earned from the construction of Dubai's aluminium smelter, and Al-Fayed was targeted over his management contract of the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The construction of Dubai's aluminium smelter caused Al Tajir to fall out with Sheikh Rashid's sons. In the judgement of a British court case, Al Tajir conspired to defraud Dubai Aluminium of millions of US dollars in connivance with commodities trader Marc Rich, who owned a neighbouring property in Switzerland.

Al Tajir owns a glass-bottling company in Dubai and a private bank in the tax haven of the Cayman Islands.

References

  1. "Rich List - Mahdi Al-Tajir". Arabian Business. 29 November 2007.
  2. ^ "Sunday Times Rich List 2010: Britain's richest see wealth rise by one third". The Daily Telegraph. 24 April 2010.
  3. "Mohammed Mahdi AL TAJIR - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-11.
  4. ^ "The World's Richest Arabs". CNBC. June 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-09-24.
  5. "The World's Billionaires - #1062 Mahdi Al Tajir". Forbes. 2008.
  6. "Who are the lairds lording over us?". New Statesman. 13 December 1999. Archived from the original on 2011-01-11.
  7. "BRITAIN: Dinner for 370,000, Please, James". TIME. 1976-08-02. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  8. The Glory of the Goldsmith: Magnificent Gold and Silver from the Al-Tajir Collection, Christie's, 1989, ISBN 0903432366
  9. Alberge, Dalya (7 December 1993). "Prints fraud led by grandmother". The Independent. London.
  10. "arab-businessman-ordered-to-pay-500-to-girlfriend-over-assault". The Daily Record. Scotland. 27 October 2009.
  11. "Judgement - Dubai Aluminium v. Salaam". www.ucc.ie. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  12. Bower, Tom (1998). Fayed: The Unauthorized Biography. Macmillan. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-333-74554-0.
  13. Bower 1998, p.27.
  14. Bower 1998, p.31.
  15. Bower 1998, p.33.
  16. Bower 1998, p.36.
  17. Bower 1998, p.50.
  18. Bower 1998, p.71.
  19. Bower 1998, p.302.

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