London– Far from the golden deserts of Dubai and its sprawling marble palaces, a Jordanian princess has chosen a quiet village in Wales as her new home. Princess Haya bint Hussein, daughter of the King of Jordan, is transforming an old country house into a secure and comfortable residence, leaving behind the opulence of Dubai.
The 51-year-old princess, who divorced Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2019, received one of the largest divorce settlements in history, reportedly amounting to £554 million. Following the split, she decided to move to Britain, citing safety concerns after her marriage ended amid allegations of personal threats and surveillance.
A Private Retreat in Rural Wales
Princess Haya has invested approximately £3.5 million in renovating East Country, a former hotel in the Powys region, turning the property into a private estate. Locals say the house, dating back to 1888, is undergoing extensive renovations and is equipped with high-level security measures, including cameras, anti-terror bollards at the gates, and a security office staffed by former armed forces personnel.
The property boasts a tennis court, croquet lawn, gardens with over 100 varieties of trees, a billiards room, and a library. An equestrian enthusiast who once competed at the Sydney Olympics, Princess Haya is adding stables to continue her passion for horseback riding. Maintenance costs reportedly exceed £100,000 annually.
A Life Between London and Wales
Since leaving Dubai in April 2019, Princess Haya has split her time between her London residence in Kensington and a 12-bedroom mansion in Egham, Surrey. To oversee the renovations in Wales, she frequently travels by helicopter from London, making the roughly 160-mile journey in under an hour. Locals report seeing her on site typically once a month, usually over the weekend.
Her decision to leave behind Dubai’s palatial lifestyle reflects a focus on privacy, security, and a quieter life, far from the intense scrutiny and pressures of royal life in the Middle East.
