Sheikh Saud bin Mohammed al-Thani, a Qatari royal relative who was one of the world’s most prolific and idiosyncratic buyers of art, antiquities, jewelry, vintage cars and dinosaur fossils until corruption charges left him in debt, died on Nov. 9 at his home in London.

He was said to be 48, though news media accounts have differed on his age. Qatari culture ministry officials announced the death without giving a cause. Some reports said he had a heart condition.

Sheikh Saud was appointed minister of culture, arts and heritage by Qatar’s ruling Thani family in 1997. The emir at the time, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who financed the broadcast news organization Al Jazeera, is a cousin.

Sheikh Saud’s primary task was to draw on the emirate’s vast oil wealth to purchase enough fine art and other items of cultural significance to fill five showplace museums then being built in Doha, the capital, including one designed by I. M. Pei.