Modern Sheikhs of the Arab Emirates. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai

The love story of a simple girl and a prince is a classic plot for fairy tales and has been popular since time immemorial, so not only little girls dream of marrying a handsome, rich and intelligent “prince on a white horse”, but also fully accomplished adult women. And miracles happen, the main thing is to know where to look for him, this prince. We present to your attention the five most beautiful and richest heirs of the Muslim world.

1. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Son of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his wife sheikhs Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum. sheikh Hamdan- a very popular person in the United Arab Emirates. He received an excellent education in the UK, graduating military school ground forces at Sandhurst, as well as London College of Economics and Dubai College administration. The popularity of the sheikh was gained by his charitable activities: the prince directly oversees a number of funds involved in organizing the collection of funds for the treatment of seriously ill children.

Sheikh Hamdan belongs to the al-Maktoum dynasty and officially holds the position of head of the Dubai Executive Council, that is, he heads the government of the emirate of Dubai, but he has time for numerous hobbies. Born on Valentine's Day, the prince is fond of romantic poetry, has a creative pseudonym Fazza and even publishes poetry collections. She loves Sheikh Hamdan and horseback riding, has large collection Arabian horses and regularly takes part in numerous equestrian competitions.

The Crown Prince is not married, but, alas, even before his birth, he was engaged to a relative on the maternal side. However, do not be upset - no one can forbid a sheikh to have as many wives as he wants!

2. Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah of Jordan

Crown Prince of Jordan Hussein bin Abdullah

King's eldest child Abdullah II and queens Rania, 20-year-old crown prince Hussein bin Abdullah since 2009 he has been the heir to the throne in the Kingdom of Jordan. Belongs to the Hashemite dynasty.

In 2007, the prince entered the Royal Academy in Madaba, then, as usual, went to study in the West, and he is currently studying political science in Washington, DC, at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. In addition to his native Arabic, the Prince of Jordan is fluent in three foreign languages: English, French and Hebrew.

Hussein bin Abdullah is involved in charity work, runs a fund to support the development of science among young people, and also has a number of hobbies, including football and collecting motorcycles.

Despite the fact that Jordan is a country that differs more high level glasnost and more “Western” values than neighboring UAE and Saudi Arabia, no information about personal life heir to the throne in open access no, we only know that he is not yet married.

3. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun al-Nahyan

Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan

Son of the President of the United Arab Emirates Caliphs bin Zayed al-Nahyan, sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun al-Nahyan is a member of the oldest ruling dynasty Abu Dhabi - al-Nahyan. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of the United Arab Emirates with a degree in engineering and architecture, then studied international relationships at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA.

Sheikh Sultan oversees many issues of national importance. He invests in the development of sports, architecture, and also serves as head of the East Region Development Committee. In addition, under his control is the work of state charitable foundations, as well as a large number organizations dealing with cultural heritage.

Among the sheikh's many hobbies are many sports, art collecting and travel.

There is no information about the personal life of Sheikh Sultan either on the Internet or in the media.

4. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

Sixth son of the former ruling Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa and the fifth son of his second wife - sheikhs Mozah bint Nasser al-Misned, sheikh Mohammed is a representative of another major dynasty of the Arab world, ruling family Qatar - al-Thani.

He studied at the Qatar Academy, received a bachelor's degree from the Diplomatic School of Georgetown University in Qatar, and a master's degree business administration(MBA) Harvard University. Sheikh Mohammed is fluent in Arabic, English and French.

According to the laws of the Arab monarchies, the eldest son of the ruler of the state is considered the crown prince, so Mohammed, being the sixth son of the emir, most likely will never become the head of Qatar. But this does not mean that the younger children of the rulers do not take part in managing the affairs of the state. Usually, the children of emirs hold positions in the cabinet of ministers or lead numerous committees that oversee issues of national importance. This is what happened to Sheikh Mohammed. Former captain equestrian team of Qatar, he is very passionate about sports, therefore he is directly involved in the leadership of the Committee for the preparation for the World Cup, which is to be held in Qatar in 2022.

According to unconfirmed reports, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is not married.

5. Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani

Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

Sheikh's brother Mohammed al-Thani(not only by father, but also by mother), sheikh Jasim is definitely included in the list of the most beautiful Arab men. By the way, the appearance in our today's ranking of two brothers al-Thani not surprising. The fact is that their mother is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful women in the Muslim world. Sheikh Moza bint Nasser al-Misned- the second wife of the former Emir of Qatar is known not only as a beauty and an icon of style, but also as a very gifted politician, who takes a hidden, but quite a big part in many state issues. And therefore, it is not at all surprising that such attractive and gifted children were born to such a woman.

Sheikh Jasim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was the Crown Prince of Qatar from 1996 to 2003, but later, realizing that he was unsuitable for the role, he renounced his heir status in favor of his younger brother, the current Emir of Qatar Tamima al-Thani.

He was educated at the British Royal Academy in Sandhurst, then returned to his homeland and took up charity work. He is now Honorary President of the Qatar National Cancer Society (QNCS) and is also involved in environmental issues.

Unfortunately, Sheikh Jasim has already chosen his first wife. She was a representative of the same dynasty, sheikh Butaina bint Ahmad Al Thani Sheikh's daughter Hamada bin Ali al-Thani. The couple already have three children. But as we know

The word "sheikh" brings to mind oriental fairy tales, and the life of real sheikhs, in fact, is the same fairy tale in which untold riches are combined with beauty, family ties, ancient traditions and advanced technologies. In this issue you will find the richest sheikhs in the world.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

$18 billion

It's hard to imagine, but 18 billion is nothing compared to other capitals to which Al Nahyan is related. For example, the total fortune of his family is estimated at 150 billion dollars, and the capitalization of the investment fund, whose curator is the sheikh, exceeds 875 billion.

Al Nahyan - in every sense big man, he is Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates. He became the head of state 13 years ago, but has ruled the UAE since 1990, since his father retired. Sheikh in home country valued very highly, and literally: the most-most skyscraper in the world Burj Khalifa is named after him.

David Cameron and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Elizabeth II, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prince Philip.

Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

$18 billion

The 34-year-old heir to the throne of the Emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, is a socialite no worse than Prince Harry. He is rich, travels a lot, leads Instagram. And he knows how to do good. Patronage of the autism center, large donations to charitable purposes - this is also Hamdan.

Third important side the life of the heir to the throne - extreme entertainment. The Sheikh's Instagram is constantly updated with reports of jumping from a height, demonstrating himself in the seat of a pilot of a jet aircraft or a Formula 1 car. But Hamdan's talent showed itself most clearly in equestrian sports: the prince won gold in Asian Olympic Games.

Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali Al Amoudi

$4.1 billion

He is a sheikh not by birthright, but by the fact of merit - he received the title for his achievements and wealth. Being second richest man Saudi Arabia, Ali al-Amoudi lives in two countries - Arabia and Ethiopia, where he was born and raised. He made money on oil by building oil refineries in West Africa, as well as growing everything in a row, from vegetables and fruits to coffee. The Sheikh's businesses supply, among other things, coffee for Starbucks and tea for Lipton.

Ali al-Amoudi also owns a chain of hotels and hospitals. It is seriously tied not only to African, Eastern countries: the sheikh invests in the economy Western countries in particular to Sweden. They also wrote that the arrival of the Swedish brand H&M in Ethiopia, where the labor force is very cheap, took place thanks to Ali al-Amoudi. With the personal life of a billionaire, everything is simple - married, no children.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan

$4.9 billion

46-year-old smiling Sheikh Mansour is a member of the ruling family of the Emirates, he is the half-brother of the president, Sheikh Khalifa. It is not surprising that a job was found for him in power - Mansour holds the post of prime minister of the country. In addition to state affairs, the sheikh is engaged in the oil industry - he manages the Abu Dhabi International Oil Investment Company. He also loves sports very much and does not spare money for it: the company, headed by Mansur, contains local teams in handball, football, volleyball and so on.

But this is all a trifle compared to Manchester City, yes, that same legendary British football team. Mansour is her master. Some say that this is a toy for the sheikh, others - that he is extremely serious. One thing is clear for sure: Mansour does not skimp on expenses. After all, why bother with money for a man who, as soon as the price of oil rises by one dollar, becomes half a billion richer?

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

$4.5 billion

A person who has set a goal to turn the Emirates into an investment, social, cultural paradise can be satisfied with what he has already done for this. The Emirates airline, the Jumeirah Group travel holding, many transnational projects are the work of Sheikh Mohammed. And, in fact, the Burj Khalifa hotel is also an invention of the sheikh.

In addition to work, he knows a lot about entertainment - he is fond of horse racing, makes huge bets, owns an incredible Dubai yacht. Apparently, the ability to take everything from life was inherited by his son, Sheikh Hamdan, who was discussed at the very beginning. Well, the fact that Hamdan is four times richer than his father is not important. Still one family.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Elizabeth II.

The famous singer Madonna once said: "Never forget to dream, as soon as you stop doing it, dreams will no longer come true." Every girl has her own cherished desire: someone passionately wants to spend a vacation on desert island, together with your loved one; for someone, the ultimate dream is a career as a TV star or model; and some of the fair sex cherish dreams of marrying an Arab sheikh. What is it - unrealizable fantasies or quite real opportunity? Can oriental tale turn into reality? And what needs to be done to fulfill the cherished desire?

The most enviable suitors of the East

There is no need to think that Arab sheikhs are some kind of fabulous creatures, and in order to become the wife of an eastern ruler, you need to be at least a princess or heir to the throne. History knows many examples when ordinary Slavic girls became the wives of sheikhs, and loved ones. For example, several years ago, all Belarusian tabloids were full of reports about the wedding of a member of the ruling family in Dubai, Said bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, and a simple waitress, Natalya Muslimorova.

Said came to Belarus to take part in clay shooting competitions. In the luxurious hotel where he stayed, a fateful meeting took place. The sheikh fell in love with the waitress Natalya at first sight, and even refused to participate in the competition in order to stay in Minsk and continue courting the girl. A week later, the marriage took place, and Said left the city with his young happy wife. It is worth noting that Maktoum Al Maktoum still managed to accomplish what he first flew to Belarus for – he won a silver medal in shooting. I would like to believe that it was not the young wife who prevented Said from taking the gold award ...

This story, of course, does not mean that all girls should quit their jobs or studies and get a job as waitresses in hotels, but, nevertheless, it makes you believe that miracles do happen. Or maybe not wait for a miracle with folded arms, but independently make attempts to meet with an oriental prince who will call you his beloved wife?

First of all, it is necessary to determine the circle of applicants for the position of your spouse. These, undoubtedly, must be the wealthiest representatives of the Arab elite. And, besides, it is desirable that the sheikh has an attractive appearance and sound mind. Plus - not too advanced age (this is, if you really dream to the fullest).

So, the most enviable Arab groom today is the Saudi prince Al-Walid ibn Talal ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud - a member royal family, famous businessman and international investor. In 2012, his net worth was estimated at more than $22 billion. The only rival you will have to fight is the work of Alvaleed. The sheikh spends so much time doing business that he gets no more than five hours of sleep a night. True, the prince is already 58 years old, but, as you know, all ages are submissive to love, especially since oriental men are famous for their excellent health and longevity.

Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, whose wealth is second only to that of a royal, is another very promising suitor. In 2012, the sheikh expressed a desire to see his name on the sand dunes. Masters, specially hired for this, worked on the inscription for a week, and already after this time the name of the eastern billionaire could be seen from space! The image is so huge. In general, Hamad is distinguished by a non-standard way of thinking and irrepressible imagination. For example, in his personal collection there are seven modern Mercedes, painted in seven colors of the rainbow. So if you are creative personality and have an original and lively mind, you will definitely be able to find with Hamad common topics for a conversation. It remains only to get acquainted with the Arab sheikh.

The Futtaim brothers, Majed and Abdullah, are also among the richest and most influential sheikhs in the UAE. Majed amassed his $3 billion net worth by running a chain of large shopping malls; and Abdullah, who is worth an estimated $4 billion, runs his empire selling cars like Lexus, Toyota, Jaguar.

If it turns out that the subject of your sympathy already has a legal spouse, you should not worry too much about this: in the Muslim world it is allowed to have up to four wives at the same time. Another question - do you agree to become another wife in the harem?

But the 31-year-old prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, remains the tidbit for brides around the world. Now the prince is the head of the Executive Council of the city. AT free time he enjoys writing poetry and breeding camels. Hamdan has an incredibly attractive appearance, but behind the angelic face hides a tough and rather despotic nature. The prince makes rather severe demands on the future bride, and so far his heart remains free. Who knows, maybe it is waiting for you?

It is worth noting that not all Eastern billionaires are ready for their names to be known to the whole world. Many rich and influential Arab sheikhs, for one reason or another, do not want to make their huge capital public. So you need to be attentive to every acquaintance with an oriental man. Even if the name of your new acquaintance does not mean anything to you, you may well find yourself in front of a real sheikh who prefers not to tell everyone he meets about his condition.

Looking for fish spots

Having set a goal - to become the wife of an Arab sheikh, it is important to think through all the details and trifles. Decide where these same sheikhs are found, what kind of women they prefer and what to do to please them.

First of all, wealthy Arab suitors should be looked for in their homeland - in the East. Abu Dhabi in the UAE is famous for its high concentration sheikhs for one square meter area. Numerous hotels, chic restaurants, velvet beaches are ideal places to look after a potential groom. Every year, Abu Dhabi hosts the famous Big Boys Toys Exhibition, which presents the most luxurious cars, powerful motorcycles and luxury yachts. Naturally, thousands of successful entrepreneurs come here not only from the East, but from all over the world.

You can look for a groom in the Emirates all year round: large-scale events, holidays, festivals are constantly held here. And a couple of years ago, a yacht club for billionaires opened on Yas Island (near Abu Dhabi). The main question is how to get into this club. Perhaps first as a waitress or maid, and after some time to return here as the wife of an oil tycoon.

Armed with the most irresistible charms

So, you have looked for a suitable candidate for your hand and heart, now the main task- conquer him. How should you behave so that the Arab sheikh immediately drew attention to you and was so fascinated that he offered to become a life partner?

First of all, it is worth remembering that an Arab man will never take a woman seriously if she behaves frivolously or frivolously. Pay attention to your appearance: even if you want to show off all your charms, beware of wearing too revealing clothes. What looks natural at home is completely unacceptable in Arab countries. You can show your virtues after the wedding, in the matrimonial bedroom.

Do not use in the presence of an Arab sheikh you like alcoholic drinks and smoke. This is strictly forbidden, and if you seriously intend to tie the knot with this man, then you should completely forget about all bad habits.

Try to be calm and polite. In general, in Arab countries, it is not common for women to express emotions in public, so you can scare away the groom with your temperament. Although it may be the other way around: your emotionality will seem like an original highlight to the sheikh, and he will be fascinated by you. You need to find a "golden mean" in communicating with a potential groom: while remaining yourself, observe the norms of behavior characteristic of the Eastern world.

When accepting Arab courtship, limit yourself to walks and inexpensive gifts. Taking more drastic actions can harm your reputation.

Everyday life of an Arab woman

If you do everything right, your dream is quite destined to come true. Having won the Sheikh's heart, you accept his offer to become a life partner. In the East, it is customary to play very magnificent and luxurious weddings. Be prepared that up to several thousand guests will be invited to the celebration. So, for example, at the wedding of the Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, there were twenty thousand guests, and the celebration itself cost the billionaire $ 60 million. This wedding went down in history as the most expensive and luxurious. Fortunately, the groom's family takes care of all the expenses for organizing the holiday, the bride is only required to weave a carpet with her own hands, which she takes with her as a dowry.

But family life is not limited to the wedding day and a romantic trip, after the honeymoon, ordinary everyday life awaits you in a new status. What are the walls of the harem concealing? And what is everyday life wives of an Arab sheikh?

How you will live as the wife of an Arab sheikh will depend entirely on the temperament of your husband. This may be a life in seclusion, in accordance with strict Eastern canons; or you will enjoy your holidays in the most expensive resorts and drive around in luxury cars. Today, a woman in a veil is not as powerless as it was a couple of decades ago. Sheikhs give their spouses the right to a full life: education, participation in social events and even work (if the wife of an Arab billionaire needs it at all).

European civilization influenced Oriental women, they became more self-confident, liberated. And in the art of drawing up marriage contracts, residents of Egypt or the Emirates will give odds to any Russian woman. Do not forget about this important point when giving consent to marriage. If the right to divorce is not noted in the document, then you officially become completely attached to your spouse, and you will be his property until the end of days. At the same time, when getting married, Arab women, despite local laws on polygamy, are not eager to share their husband and his property with someone else. To protect yourself from this, marriage contract a clause on the so-called "commission" is prescribed: in the event of a remarriage, an Arab man pays his first wife up to 70% of his capital.

Also, the marriage contract usually indicates the nuances of the division of property in the event of a divorce. But in history there is practically no case yet for an Arab sheikh to divorce his wife. Even Arabs of simple blood do not often decide to take this step, and a divorce in the sheikh's family is completely from the category of fantasy.

Sooner or later, the moment will come when you decide to have a child. Of course, the Sheikh's wife will be provided best conditions for this. But the fact is that a child, having been born on the territory of the state, automatically becomes its citizen, and it will become impossible to take him out of there without the consent of his father. This point is also impossible not to mention in the case of a theoretically possible divorce.

You can marry a sheikh if you really want to

What do you need to know when going on a “hunt” for an Arab sheikh?

Sheikhs, in fact, are ordinary men, they love beautiful, smart, charming girls;

It is important to know the "fish" places where these amazing "individuals" most often live;

When meeting a sheikh, for a start it is worth showing him your positive traits: intelligence, education, erudition. Postpone acquaintance with small flaws for later, let them become a pleasant surprise for the newly-made husband;

Princess Haya bint Al Hussein

Princess Haya was born in the family of King Hussein I of Jordan. European education: Studied in England where she attended Badminton School for Girls in Bristol, Bryanston School in Dorset and then St Hilda's College at Oxford University from which she graduated summa cum laude in philosophy, politics and economics.

In 2004, Princess Haya married Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai, whose net worth is estimated at $20 billion. Khaya is his younger wife (the eldest is Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum).

At the time of his marriage to Haya, Sheikh Mohammed already had four wives, whose descendants are recognized, but who do not have official titles ( total the sheikh's wives are not currently published anywhere, but, as you know, he still has childless wives). To today The couple has two children - a son and a daughter.

If the first wife of the Sheikh of Dubai is not a public person at all, then Sheikha Haya is her complete opposite. She is the modern face of Dubai. Haya is a founding member of the Geneva-based Global Humanitarian Forum and a member of the boards of many other non-profit community organizations. And also a source of constant scandals.

So, the princess took part in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and represented there ... Jordan in show jumping (one of the equestrian sports). And everything would be fine, but her very appointment to the Olympic team was controversial: she qualified and earned Jordan the right to participate in the Olympics in this sport, a completely different athlete. Which was then deprived of a place in favor of Haya. And Haya took 70th place.

However, the Sheikh cannot avoid questions in his personal life. Few people believe that the princess married for love, they even call her a gold digger and they say that before marriage, the princess very favorably accepted the courtship of European fans, which is unacceptable for an Arab princess.

Lubna Al Qasimi is a member of the ruling family of the emirate of Sharjah. As well as the Minister of Economy of the UAE. Among the merits of Lubna, international observers and analysts note: ensuring transparency in the management of the national economy, negotiating skills, clear planning trade relations, increasing the authority of the country.

Sheikha Lubna is included in the first hundred outstanding women in the world. She studied in the USA and became the first woman to study abroad. Studied in the States Computer techologies and got a job as a programmer. Returning home in 1981, she worked in her specialty at the Dubai Seaport and did a lot to turn it into an international port. To the moment widespread information technologies Lubna was already a well-known specialist, had her own company and commercial website, and was also going to scientific work. But plans had to be adjusted ...

In her early 40s, Lubna Al Qasimi became the first female member of the Emirati government. Under her leadership (and in a favorable global environment), the annual per capita income in the UAE grew by more than 15%, exceeding $28,000 in 2005. However, Sheikh Lubna did not leave her own business either. Her company specializes in the production of women's perfumes. Part of the income from the sale of perfumes is automatically transferred by Lubnaya to the fund for the fight against cancer in her native emirate.

In the Emirates, a lot is different from what the whole world is used to. Here, for example, the “first lady” here is not called the wife of the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, but one of the wives of the late founder of the Emirati state, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Her name is Sheikha Fatma bint Mubarak al-Katabi. She is the half-mother of the current president, who is the first son of Sheikh Zayed from an earlier marriage.

The date of her birth is not mentioned in official sources anywhere. It is only known that she became the wife of Sheikh Zayed in the late 50s. In 1960, she gave birth to her first child, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the current Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Photos of the "first lady" are rare. More often, her image can be found in the form of a picture, as if created for a children's fairy tale with a happy ending.

Let's not break the tradition, and if the sheikha so wants, we will imagine her just like that - in the arms of her beloved and loving husband-ruler of the Emirates.

Another strong and powerful woman United Arab Emirates - Muna Isa Al Gur. One of the directors of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group. Responsible for the promotion and international development of the brands that are part of the company, including: UNITED COLORS OF Benetton, Siemens, Unilever, IDdesign. A young, beautiful, intelligent and progressive oriental woman.

Muna has also been appointed to the board of the Emirates Foundation, an independent charity set up by the government of Abu Dhabi to help small and medium-sized businesses in the UAE. As well as contributing to the development of youth initiatives and the maintenance of women's rights.

April 30, 2013 in the Netherlands for the first time in the last 120 years, a king will appear on the throne - so far the kingdom has been ruled by women. 45-year-old Prince Willem-Alexander will inherit from his mother not only the throne and title, but also a considerable fortune. Now Queen Beatrix is ranked seventh in the ranking of the richest monarchs on the planet, compiled at the end of 2012 by the British heraldic almanac Almanach de Gotha. The amount of her fortune, depending on the principles of calculation (with or without taking into account real estate belonging to royal dynasties, family collections of antiques, etc.), fluctuates between $ 300 million and £ 10 billion.

1. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
Age: 85 years old
Year of beginning of the board: 1952
Wealth: £60bn ($94.8bn)
The traditional calculation of the British Queen's fortune does not take into account those unique objects that are perceived as state property, and gives a very modest amount of several hundred million dollars. Meanwhile, taking into account the cost of Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, St. James's Palace and Holyrood, windsor castle and other properties owned by the royal family, as well as the royal art collection, the British monarch ranks first in the list of the richest colleagues.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited the hospital. Queen Elizabeth at King's Lynn, Norfolk on February 5, 2013. The hospital installed a new magnetic resonance tomograph. © AFP PHOTO/POOL/PAUL ROGERS

2. King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Age: 87 years old
Year of beginning of the board: 2005
Wealth: £40bn ($63.2bn)
The basis of the state of the Saudi king is oil, the sale of which brings this state about $ 1 billion per day. In addition, Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud owns a huge stable, which contains the best Arabian horses (the monarch is known as a passionate rider and founder of an equestrian club in Riyadh), and a good garage, most of which cars are exclusive or antique.

King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud meets with French President Francois Hollande at the Royal Palace in Jeddah on November 4, 2012. © AFP PHOTO/BERTRAND LANGLOIS

3. Emir of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Age: 64
Year of beginning of the board: 2004
Wealth: £30bn ($47.4bn)
The sheikh of Abu Dhabi and the current president of the UAE is also rich thanks to the oil produced in his country. This is not surprising: 80% of the oil reserves of the United Arab Emirates are concentrated in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In addition, Khalifa receives a good income from investing his own funds in various sectors of the world economy.

Emir of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the opening of a container terminal at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi on December 12, 2012. © REUTERS/WAM/Handout

4. King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand
Age: 84
Start of reign: 1946
Wealth: £28bn ($44.24bn)
The Thai monarch is not just one of the richest monarchs in the world, but also one of the most prudent: he spent a large part of his fortune on the development and implementation of more than 3,000 agricultural land development projects in the country. However, there is nothing surprising in this: the king “part-time” heads the Royal Thai Real Estate Agency, which owns colossal plots of land in the country. In addition, the royal collection of precious stones is widely known in the world, which seriously affects the size of the monarch's fortune.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand leaves Sirirai Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand on December 5, 2012. © REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa

5. Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Age: 62
Starting year of board: 2006
Wealth: £25bn ($39.5bn)
The Emir of Dubai is currently also the Prime Minister of the UAE and, like Saudi king, is known for its horses: its stable is considered one of the largest and most expensive in the world. And of course, a large part of his fortune is made up of oil reserves, which the emirate of Dubai boasts, as well as income from investments in various sectors of the world economy.

The Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, attends the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 31, 2012. © REUTERS/Caren Firouz

6. Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah
Age: 65 years old
Year of beginning of the board: 1967
Wealth: £24bn ($37.92bn)
The most famous property of the Sultan of Brunei (besides the oil produced in his country) is a collection of cars, which has from 3,000 to 6,000 cars, many of which were produced in extremely limited batches or even in a single copy. The Sultan's palace Istan Nurul Iman (Palace of Light) with an area of over 200,000 square meters is also famous. m, which contains 1788 apartments and 257 bathrooms.

Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (right) with his first wife Anak Saleh at the wedding of his daughter, 32-year-old Princess of Brunei Hafiza Sururul, who married Pengiran civil servant Haji Muhammad Ruzaini, 29, September 19, 2012. © STR/AFP/GettyImages

7. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Age: 74
Year of beginning of the board: 1980
Wealth: £10bn ($15.8bn)
Traditionally, the fortune of the Queen of the Netherlands is estimated at $ 300 million - but this does not include the royal stake in Royal Dutch Shell (it is about 25%), as well as the value of royal art collections and jewelry. Taking into account all these riches, the total fortune of Beatrix, who recently announced her impending abdication, is 30 times larger and allows her to enter the top ten richest monarchs in the world.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived at the Theater. Beatrix in Utrecht, the Netherlands on February 1, 2013. © ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images

8. Emir of Kuwait Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah
Age: 82
Starting year of board: 2006
Wealth: £9 billion ($14.22 billion)
Sheikh Sabah's annual “stipend”, which consists of his share of the proceeds from the sale of oil, is $188 million, and these payments are the basis of the state of the Kuwaiti monarch. However, the emir is well aware that oil resources are exhaustible, and therefore he is already trying to prepare his country for life in the post-oil era, initiating economic reforms, which were based on the simplification of the rules for land privatization and the facilitation of conditions for attracting foreign investment.

Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at the Algerian airport. Houari Boumediene, January 7, 2013. © REUTERS/Louafi Larbi

9. Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani
Age: 60 years old
Year of beginning of the board: 1995
Wealth: £7bn ($11.06bn)
The current emir of Qatar came to power by overthrowing his father, who imprudently went on vacation to Switzerland. Among his Middle Eastern counterparts, Hamad enjoys a reputation as a progressive leader: under him, Qatar was the first country in the region to grant women the right to vote. And the emir ensured the growth of his already considerable fortune by reforming the country's oil and gas industry, creating ideal conditions for attracting foreign investment from the world's largest mining companies.

10. Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said Albusaid
Age: 71
Year of beginning of the board: 1970
Wealth: £6bn ($9.48bn)
The creator of the Sultanate of Oman, which arose after the unification of the Sultanate of Muscat and the Imamate of Oman, is the owner of another "oil" fortune. In addition, a significant share of the wealth of Qaboos is the Qasr al-Alam royal palace built in 1972 overlooking the main harbor of Muscat, and several yachts (including the 155-meter Al-Said, named after the owner), consolidated into a division royal yachts of the Omani Navy.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said Albusaid of Oman at the opening of the meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf in Doha, December 3, 2007. © REUTERS/Fadi Al-Assaad/Files

11. King of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifa
Age: 62
Year of beginning of the board: 2002
Wealth: £3.5bn ($5.53bn)
Another passionate lover of Arabian horses in the ranking of the richest monarchs. Created by Hamad in 1977, the Amiri stable was included in the list of the World Arabian Horse Organization a year later and today is one of the largest and most expensive in the world. The basis of the state of the King of Bahrain is oil, like that of his other Middle Eastern colleagues, as well as income from international investments, which are handled by a special royal fund.

King of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifa at a meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. Sakhir Palace, south of Manama, December 24, 2012. © REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

12. Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Age: 67 years old
Year of beginning of the board: 1989
Wealth: £4bn ($6.32bn)
The main source of wealth for the current ruler of a small Alpine state is the LGT family bank. In addition to financial income, when calculating the fortune of Hans-Adam, several palaces of the 17th century in Vienna, a unique collection of works of art collected by the princely family over 400 years, and over 20,000 hectares of land were taken into account.

Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein at the Monaco Day celebration at the Prince's Palace in Monaco, November 19, 2012. © Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

13. Grand Duke Luxembourg Henri
Age: 56 years old
Year of beginning of the board: 2000
Wealth: £3bn ($4.74bn)
Unlike the Middle Eastern monarchs who built their fortunes on oil, their European counterparts cannot boast of such a highly profitable source of savings. Here is the Duke of Luxembourg Henri, nephew reigning king Albert II of Belgium, manages a fortune that consists of bank deposits, gold reserves and real estate, as well as shares of various industrial companies. It is noteworthy that Henri spends part of his income on defense wildlife, first of all - the unique Galapagos Islands.

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Marie-Thérèse Mestre (Grand Duchess Marie-Thérèse) enter Notre Dame de Luxembourg Cathedral before the wedding ceremony of Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Belgian Countess Stephanie de Lannoy. October 20, 2012, Luxembourg. © Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

14. Prince Albert II of Monaco
Age: 53
Year of beginning of the board: 2005
Wealth: £2.5bn ($3.95bn)
The collection of works of art collected by the princely family is the basis of the state reigning prince Monaco. In addition to her, he owns an expensive collection of antique cars and a collection of stamps and receives a substantial income from the activities of the casino in Monte Carlo.

Prince Albert II of Monaco at a party in West Hollywood, California on February 26, 2012. © Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TWC

15. Nizari Ismaili Imam Aga Khan IV
Age: 75 years old
Year of beginning of the board: 1957
Wealth: £2bn ($3.16bn)
Imam Aga Khan is the head of a huge Nizari Ismaili community (an offshoot of the Ismaili branch of Shiite Islam) living in India, Oman, Syria, Tajikistan and Zanzibar. Although the Nizaris do not have own state, their current head is equated with the monarch: since 1957, he has been called "His Highness", bestowed on him by Queen Elizabeth II. The Aga Khan IV is the owner of a herd of 900 purebred Arabian horses, which, together with a stake in one of the British horse auction houses, provides him with an annual income of $ 300 million. Added to this are income from the management of several hotels and airlines, as well as investments in the tourism business in Sardinia (it was through the efforts of the Aga Khan that the Emerald Coast of the island turned into a zone of fashionable recreation since the 1960s) and shares of the largest industrial companies.