Qatar Investment Authority
The Qatar Investment Authority, QIA is Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, specialized in local and foreign investment. It was founded during 2005 to manage the extra oil and natural gas surpluses that Qatar Government was receiving. As a result of its stated strategy to minimize risk from Qatar’s reliance on energy prices, the fund invests in international markets (USA, Europe and Asia) and within Qatar outside the energy sector.
The QIA as a whole controls the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, which is a property investment fund.
QIA is estimated to hold in excess of $60 billion of assets, an amount that will significantly increase by 2011 as the state completes its expansion projects to become the world’s largest LNG exporter with 77 million tons output capacity.
The Qatar economy has been one of the most dynamic, where the GDP has risen from $8 billion in 1995 to an estimated GDP of $52 billion.
The chief executive and chairman of the QIA is Sheik Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani.
QIA does not publish its holdings out to the market. It is not clear if QIA mixes or not personal investments of the royal family members and the funds of the state of the Qatar. Most decisions are made under patronage of Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani although QIA states to be a professionally managed investment fund. QIA funds do not follow the Islamic Sharia due to their investments in banking and other non permissible assets all over the world.
-Investments:
1- Qatar Investment Authority holds 15.1% of shares of the London Stock Exchange.
2- Qatar Investment Authority also holds 17% of total preference shares of Volkswagen, showing interest in becoming an active partner with Volkswagen.
3- On 8 May 2010, Qatar Holding, an indirect subsidiary of QIA, purchased the Harrods Group from Mohammed Al-Fayed, including the Knightsbridge department store. QIA are also the largest shareholder in Sainsbury’s.
4- On 5 December 2010, Qatar Investment Authority was part of the investment group that purchased Miramax Films from The Walt Disney Company.
5- In October 2008 QIA were linked with a takeover of Everton F.C. in a deal worth £200million.
6- On 18 December 2010, Qatar Holding was rumored to be prepared to bid up to £1.5 billion for Manchester United F.C. A Glazer Family spokesperson denied these reports, saying the football club was not for sale.
7- On 31 May 2011, QIA acquired 70% of the capital of Paris St Germain Football Club, a French football club, in order to develop his presence in Europe.
What about the investment of World Cup 2022? Will it work out?
