Yours for a cool £70m ­ Britain's most expensive new home

For once, the estate agent had no need of hyperbole. A 30-bedroom house complete with five swimming pools, two bowling alleys and a cinema has been sold for an estimated £70m to make it Britain's most expensive new home.

Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, the racehorse owner and Crown Prince of Dubai, is rumoured to have bought Updown Court in Windlesham, Surrey, which is set in 90 acres of landscaped gardens. Builders involved with the project said no expense had been spared for the lavish new home that incorporates luxury stables and a wine cellar with a special tasting area.

A winding driveway is made of the world's most expensive marble with underground heating to prevent it from freezing during the winter months. A banqueting hall seats 30 and a huge main kitchen has enough room for 10 chefs. For the guests, there is underground parking with space for nine limousines.

The American-based architect John Scholz, who specialises in homes for the rich and famous around the world, confirmed that a foreign head of state had bought the house for "entertaining" while in Britain.

He was expected to complete within the next few weeks as builders put the finishing touches to the building. Mr Scholz said: "There are only a handful of foreign heads of state who have enough money to buy this place." Mr Scholz said he was sworn to secrecy over the identity of the buyer.

One local woman said: "Everyone around this area believes it is Sheikh Mohammed who has bought the place. It really is right up his street."