The 639-acre Gleneagles golf course, also known as gWest, located in Blackford, Perthshire, Scotland, has been put up for sale by its owner, UAE billionaire Mahdi al-Tajir. The property, developed almost two decades ago, has been described as a 'ghost' resort because it has been used primarily by al-Tajir and his family, with limited access for others.
The championship 18-hole course, designed by architect David McLay Kidd, sits on a 7,300-yard site and includes a clubhouse shell. Initially conceived as a £500 million luxury leisure complex, gWest was intended to rival the nearby five-star Gleneagles resort and was projected to create over 1,000 jobs, significantly boosting the local economy. However, these ambitious plans were hampered by factors including the global recession, the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, and Brexit.
Independent property consultancy Knight Frank is now handling the sale, with offers being invited for the estate. The property comes with planning permission for a hotel and spa, leisure and entertainment facilities, staff accommodation, and up to 170 residential plots. Euan Kelly, partner at Knight Frank Edinburgh, described gWest as a "once-in-a-lifetime asset" and anticipates substantial global interest.
"It is incredibly rare that an opportunity like gWest becomes available," Kelly stated. "We're expecting a huge amount of interest from across the globe in what could be a once-in-a-lifetime asset: a substantial consented resort development site, with a golf course designed by a celebrated architect, on Scotland's most prestigious leisure locations."
He added that while the site's initial grand vision has not been fully realized, a sale could provide the impetus for its development and enhance Scotland's tourist offerings.
The al-Tajir family, which also owns Highland Spring, had envisioned the resort as one of Europe's largest leisure complexes. The golf course was completed in 2009, with early plans including a six-star hotel and luxury properties. However, economic uncertainties, including the 2008 financial crisis, prevented the full realization of these plans. Only a select few golfers, including professionals Henrik Stenson, David Drysdale, and Peter Whiteford, along with the University of Stirling golf team, have had the opportunity to play the course.
Scotland boasts approximately 560 golf courses, accounting for about one-fifth of the UK's total. The golf industry in Scotland generated an estimated £2.7 billion in revenue in the 2024-25 fiscal year, with projections indicating an increase to £3 billion for 2025-26.
Mahdi Al Tajir, a prominent businessman and former UAE ambassador to the UK, is also the owner of the bottled water company Highland Spring and the historic Keir House estate. In 2010, he was listed among Scotland's wealthiest individuals, with an estimated fortune of £1.6 billion.
