| It is tiny and has existed as an independent country for only 41 years. Yet Qatar is fast becoming a kingmaker of corporate Britain. The emirate’s sovereign wealth fund already owns Harrods and the American embassy building in Grosvenor Square, London, as well as One Hyde Park, Chelsea Barracks, the Olympic village, 26 per cent of J Sainsbury, 28 per cent of Canary Wharf’s owner, Song Bird Estates, and sizeable chunks of Barclays and the London Stock Exchange.
Next Thursday, the Qatari prime minister, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani will arrive in the UK to open the latest piece on his Monopoly board of London: the Shard. The 72-storey tower is 95 per cent-owned by Qatar...............................................Full Article: Source
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