DOHA: Qatar has invested an estimated QR477bn abroad over the past five years. The size of Qatar’s foreign investments amounted to about $36.5bn last year, up from $21.5bn in 2013. Qatar’s foreign investments touched nearly $45bn in 2012, compared with $13bn in 2011 and $15bn in 2010.
A country-wise breakdown of Qatar’s foreign investment destination shows the UK and Paris attracted maximum share of investments from Qatar. London alone wooed nearly $45bn, while investments in Paris stood at $30bn.
Among the most prominent global deals concluded by Qatar during the last five years included the acquisition of Harrods in London for $2.3bn and 3 percent stake in Dutch British Shell for $11bn. Qatar bought shares of Siemens for $5bn and German Deutsche Bank for $2.4bn.
The investment in Shard London was $1.5bn and HSBC Bank Tower in Canary Wharf $1.3bn.
This is in addition to investing millions of dollars in strategic areas in China, Turkey, Indonesia, Spain, Hong Kong and Switzerland.
