Doha, Qatar: The strategic relationship between Qatar and the UK is entering a new phase with enhanced cooperation being elevated in such fields as defence, renewable energy, culture, healthcare, modern technology and AI, among others, Qatar’s Ambassador to the UK, H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani has said.
Speaking at a private event to launch the independent report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) yesterday, the Qatari envoy remarked that the state visit by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the UK last December significantly enhanced the relations between the two nations, strengthening them to an unprecedented level.
The Cebr report titled “The Economic Contribution of Qatari Investment in the UK” indicated that Qatari investments have generated more than £1.3 trillion of revenue impact in the UK and that Qatari-owned businesses in the UK supported an aggregate 611,171 full-time-equivalent (FTE) jobs as of 2022.
According to the report, in 2022 alone, UK-based companies with Qatari ownership (defined as having over 10% equity shareholding) recorded a turnover of £127.2bn.
“H H the Amir’s state visit was very successful in all ramifications, and it resonated all over Europe. I got the feedback from all over Europe, with ambassadors in different countries—Madrid, Paris, Berlin; and many others—calling me to express their satisfying impression about the outcome of the visit. The media coverage was massive, and the economic impact has been quite impressive on both sides,” Sheikh Abdulla said.
The Ambassador noted that the Qatar-UK relationship, which dates back more than 100 years, has significantly been elevated to a different tier over the past two decades, with Qatari investments playing a pivotal role in bolstering the UK economy.
The event, which included a panel discussion, also had in attendance British Ambassador to Qatar H E Neerav Patel.
The Qatari Ambassador noted that education has been a very vital aspect of the relationship, considering that about 3,400 Qatari students are currently studying in the UK and a significant number of British educational institutions have a presence in Qatar. He added that Qatar has long been a trusted investment partner for British businesses, and the country announced in 2024 that it would invest £1bn in a global partnership in climate technology with the UK.
The Ambassador said the UK looks at Qatar in the category of the top 20 in trade, which is a very significant number.
“People think mostly of the trade and investment, but we also need to look at the defence. Qatar has a strong defence relationship with the UK. We are the first country that is having a joint fighter squadron, probably since the Second World War, with the UK. It’s only from Qatar and the UK. We have our squadron in the hope for the advanced training.
“It’s based in the UK, and our pilots train there before they come to Doha. So I think the relationship in all domains, not only in investment but also in trade, education, and defence has been strengthened. I think now we are, after the State Visit, planning to have a comprehensive partnership in the defence sector,” he added.
In his comments, the British Ambassador noted that one of Qatar’s latest investments in the UK, the Qatari Diar-owned Chancery Rosewood Hotel housed in the former US Embassy in London’s Mayfair district, which is due to be opened in a couple of weeks, is projected to add another £500m to the UK economy and provide employment for up to 7,000 people.
He noted that the Cebr report has helped to destroy one of those myths, which is that Qatar’s investment is only in London and it is only in the property sector.
“It’s not just in places like the Shard or Harrods. Qatar’s investment is multisectoral. It is across the country. I was really struck by one thing that I read in the report, which is that Qatar’s investment in the UK generates as many jobs outside of London as inside, and that just gives you a sense of the breadth and the depth of the relationship. There is such an exciting horizon,” he said.
He noted that Qatar’s investments are diversified across industries such as real estate, retail, hospitality, ports, and technology, reflecting Qatar’s strategic approach to foreign direct investment (FDI).
