Bankrupt Kuwaiti businessman behind Dartford Disneyland debacle could face a criminal investigation

Abdulla Al Humaidi - Source: Luxury Launches Mumbai

The bankrupt businessman behind the doomed £3.5 billion theme park ‘Dartford Disneyland’ and former owner of Ebbsfleet United FC could be subject to a criminal investigation, the High Court heard last month.

Abdulla Al Humaidi was declared bankrupt in 2023 due to money owed to creditors who had invested in the park.  But the Judge and bankruptcy trustees say the Kuwaiti entrepreneur has not disclosed the required information about his assets in Egypt, Kuwait and the UK and his shares in his investment firm, Kuwait European Holding Company (KEHC), of which he was previously an owner.

Peter Shaw, KC, acting for the trustees, told the court Al Humaidi remains uncooperative in the bankruptcy case and failed to explain a £9.5 million payment made by KEHC to his late mother. He told the court the trustees may now refer Al Humaidi for criminal charges and applied for the businessman to remain in bankruptcy.

This new development marks the latest scandal regarding the Al Humaidi family ownership of Ebbsfleet FC which competes in the National League South and the ‘Dartford Disneyland’ amusement park in Kent which was recently liquidated after years of delay.

The barrister said Al Humaidi has not complied with his legal duty to assist the bankruptcy process and made inconsistent statements about his finances.  The Kuwaiti businessman claims a 29 per cent share in KEHC but Mr Shaw said other records suggest he owned 50 or 100 per cent.

Mr Shaw said Al Humaidi had failed to provide information on his ownership of KEHC despite an order by Judge Prentis to do so.  “This goes to the question of whether he has cooperated and done all he reasonably can to provide the trustees with responses”, he said. 

The barrister added Al Humaidi refused to provide his electronic devices to the trustees saying they contain personal information and data relating to third parties.   Al Humaidi refused to say if any information has been deleted from the devices.  “As things stand no devices have been delivered”, he said.

The trustees are also investigating a £9.5 million payment to Al Humaidi’s late mother.  Al Humaidi claims the payment was between KEHC and his mother and does not know what it was for.  He said he did not ask about the transaction because she was severely ill.  In a statement before her death in October, his mother said she had invested 1.2 million Kuwaiti dollars in KEHC and the payment was a loan being repaid.

James Morgan, KC, acting for Al Humaidi, told the hearing the creditor has brought civil proceedings and criminal proceedings in Kuwait.  He said Mr Shaw’s submissions ‘egregiously’ referred to criminal convictions in Kuwait which were “not admissible and were disputed and reversible”.  He added: “I don’t think my learned friend is suggesting it would be reasonable to expect Dr Al Humaidi to go to Kuwait to get the information, especially as he would probably end up in prison - for matters he disputes.”.

Mr Morgan said Al Humaidi made it clear he only owns 29 per cent of KEHC.  He added that documents from Ebbsfleet United to the National League claiming Al Humaidi owned 100 per cent of KEHC was “a mistake”.  He added the Kuwaiti entrepreneur has handed over all the information in his possession about KEHC.  

The proposal by the bankruptcy trustees to ask the police to investigate Al Humaidi is the latest scandal regarding his family’s ownership of Ebbsfleet and Dartford Disney project which has been beset by claims of fraud and financial failure.

According to court documents, Al Humaidi was convicted for channeling funds from a Kuwaiti property firm into a business tied to the Dartford Disney project without disclosing a personal interest in both parties.

And in March 2025, a separate Kuwaiti court judgement ruled Ebbsfleet United received funds laundered in a fraudulent manner by Al Humaidi.

Last month Judge Mark Mullen said he will give his judgment on Al Humaidi’s bankruptcy at a court hearing earlier next year. He said that Al Humaidi’s discharge from bankruptcy would remain suspended.