'Mayfair means money': A walk through the Gulf elite's favourite part of London

Mayfair has become a sanctuary for affluent residents of the Gulf, including tourists from the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and beyond. They flock to upscale restaurants, luxury car dealerships, and opulent hotels that line the area, including North Audley Street, where a recent incident left a Sudanese man heckled by a member of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s entourage.

Inside Selfridges, the famous department store, 15-year-old Khaled and his uncle Mohammed, both from Dubai, are among the visitors. They visit London for their investments and to assist with humanitarian aid efforts in Sudan, despite the recent controversy surrounding bin Rashid’s visit. Khaled plans to attend university in London, while his uncle recalls a simpler life in Dubai before oil transformed the city.

The Emirati leaders, including the ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the UAE, have ties to the UK, which the Gulf citizens also appreciate. The family's three-week stay in Mayfair is a recurring trip for them every August. Khaled looks forward to attending university in the city, which he finds less oppressive than Dubai.