The investment in London Heathrow Airport by Qatar, Singapore's GIC sovereign wealth fund, and Alinda Capital Partners reflects a strategic move for several reasons: 1. Strategic Asset: Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports, making it a highly valuable and strategic asset.
According to The Times, the Savoy is part-owned by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, the Ritz was bought by a Qatari businessman who is the brother-in-law of Qatar's rulers in 2020, and the Connaught is owned by Hamad bin Jassim, who was Qatar's prime minister when Hamas relocated to Doha.
The UK and Qatar signed a new Strategic Investment Partnership (SIP) which will see Qatar invest up to £10 billion over the next five years in key sectors of the UK economy, including fintech, zero emissions vehicles, life sciences and cyber security.
Barclays said QIA owned 847.6m shares before the sale, giving it a 5.6% stake, after reducing the holding from 1bn shares in January 2022. Monday's sale represented 43% of the holding and left QIA with 486m shares, equivalent to a 3.2% stake, leaving it as Barclays' fourth biggest investor.
What does Qatar own around the world? | CNBC Explains
How much of UK is owned by Qatar?
The state of Qatar alone, not counting individual royals' personal holdings, is the 10th largest landowner in the UK, according to analysts at MSCI Real Assets. The emirate owns nearly 2.1m sq metres (23m sq feet) of property in Britain, more than 1.5 times the area of London's Hyde Park.
Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited is in turn owned by FGP Topco Limited, a consortium owned and led by the infrastructure specialist Ferrovial S.A. (25.00%), Qatar Investment Authority (20.00%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) (12.62%), GIC (11.20%), Australian Retirement Trust (11.18%), China Investment ...
Beyond being a regular state with its own sovereign borders, Qatar also owns a vast amount of land and property in different cities around the world, including London. In fact, analysts at MSCI Real Assets believe Qatar to be the 10th largest landowner in the UK.
Since 1971, the Anglo-Qatari strategic co-operation centred on issues about regional stability, ensuring the crucial flow of oil exports from the Persian Gulf to Britain and elsewhere.
The UK and Qatar work together on a wide range of political, commercial, security and economic issues of shared interest to both countries. These include tackling climate change, promoting prosperity and security in the region, and helping British companies succeed in Qatar.
Exports from France focus mainly on the supply of capital goods, deliveries of Airbus aircraft, and trade. Qatar Investment Authority owned a 2% stake in French media company Vivendi in early 2012. It also owns a stake in Lagardère Group and construction company Vinci SA.
The airport is owned and operated by Heathrow Airport Holdings, owned mostly by FGP and Qatar Investment Authority and CDPQ.. In 2022, it was the second-busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic and the busiest airport in Europe as per March 2023.
Harrods is a British luxury department store located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London, England. It is owned by Harrods Ltd, a company currently owned by the state of Qatar via its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority as part of Qatar's global soft power strategy.
The holding company, J Sainsbury plc, is split into three divisions: Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd (including convenience shops), Sainsbury's Bank, and Argos. As of 2021, the largest overall shareholder is the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar, the Qatar Investment Authority, which holds 14.99% of the company.
Qatar Airways was established by the government of Qatar on November 22, 1993; operations began on January 20, 1994. Amman was the airline's first destination in May 1994. In April 1995, the airline's CEO was Sheikh Hamad Bin Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani, who employed a staff of 75.
Qatar had previously been a protectorate under Great Britain, declaring independence on September 3, 1971, following the termination date of treaties with Great Britain.
In 1968 Britain announced plans to withdraw from the Gulf. After negotiations with neighbouring sheikhdoms—those of the present United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Bahrain—Qatar declared independence on September 3, 1971. The earlier agreements with Britain were replaced with a treaty of friendship.
These exports included combat aircraft to Qatar and bombs and missiles to countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and India. Over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022, the total value of SIELs amounted to £25 billion, contributing to a five-year average of £5.0 billion, a record high.
The state of Qatar's holdings in Scotland are worth £14.3m. This includes Cluny Estate, near Laggan, and its fishing rights, at a total value of £7.3m. Qatar also owns Eilean Aigas Estate, which is on a private island near Beauly, valued at £7m.
The Shard was inaugurated on 5 July 2012 by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, in a ceremony attended by Prince Andrew, Duke of York. Practical completion of the building was achieved in November 2012.
Ferrovial, the former majority owner of Heathrow, announced in November that it had agreed to sell its 25% stake in Heathrow for £2.4 billion ($3 billion), with 15% going to Ardian and 10% going to the Saudi PIF. The deal valued the airport at £9.5 billion ($12 billion).
Heathrow Airport boasts a diverse group of stakeholders with the Spanish firm Ferrovial currently holding the largest share at 25 per cent. The ownership structure also includes Qatar Investment Authority holding a 20 per cent stake and China Investment Corporation with 10 per cent.
