Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Muhammad Al Thani has seen his $31.5 million (£19.5m) bid for two apartments on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue rejected by the co-operative board of the building.
While the official reasons for the rejection has not been announced, suggestions in the New York media ranged from the number of children – he has 15 – and staff that would be using the apartments, to his diplomatic immunity status to the fact that the board were uncomfortable with one person having such a large share in the building.
Sheikh Hamad bid a combined total of $31.5 million for apartments 8E and 8W at an auction held by the estate of the reclusive millionaire Huguette Clark, the previous owner of the apartments.
But he was not even granted an interview by the buildings board which, according to various media reports, had concerns over allowing the prime minister of a foreign country to live in the building. » | Mark Hughes, New York | Tuesday, May 08, 2012
