London mansion ownership battle lost by billionaire sheikh's wife
Makiyah Al Jaber failed to prove the £8.3 million property was hers under Islamic custom, leaving it liable for her husband's debts.
Makiyah Al Jaber has lost a High Court battle regarding an £8.3 million mansion in Hampstead Garden Suburb, north London, according to a Times of India report. The dispute concerned whether the property, located on Winnington Road, belonged to her or her husband, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber.
The sheikh's company, MBI International & Partners Inc, went into liquidation in 2017. A 2023 High Court judgment established that the sheikh owed liquidators approximately £80 million following the transfer of shares in 2016. The liquidators sought to use the London home to secure repayment of these debts.
Al Jaber argued the house was a gift provided under Islamic custom, where a husband provides a home for his wife. She also claimed she should have ownership due to her role in managing renovations and maintaining the residence since moving from Saudi Arabia in 1992.
Deputy Master Joanna Valentine rejected the claim of beneficial ownership. The judge stated there was no expert evidence provided to prove the existence or application of the cited Islamic custom. The court also noted that the sheikh had previously treated the mansion as his own asset in legal proceedings.
While the court acknowledged Al Jaber's efforts in maintaining the home, the judge ruled these actions did not prove a legal agreement for ownership. The judge also found insufficient evidence that Al Jaber suffered a financial loss by relying on the belief that the house was hers.
The ruling confirms the property belongs to the sheikh both legally and beneficially. A final charging order was made against the mansion to serve as security for the debt, though a separate order is required before any sale can occur.