Qatar's London Real Estate Portfolio Estimated at Over £10 Billion

London – A recent tweet by Jonathan Schanzer, stating, "Reminder: Half of London is owned by Qatar," has drawn attention to the significant, though not half, real estate holdings of Qatar and its ruling family in the British capital. While the assertion of "half of London" is an overstatement, reports indicate that Qatar's state and royal family have amassed a property empire valued in the billions of pounds, surpassing even the private landholdings of the British Crown.

The House of Al-Thani, Qatar's ruling family, reportedly owns 1.8 million square feet of real estate in London, estimated at approximately £2.4 billion. Beyond individual holdings, the state of Qatar, primarily through its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), is the UK's 10th largest landowner, possessing nearly 2.1 million square meters (23 million square feet) of property in Britain. The overall portfolio of the state is likely worth in excess of £10 billion.

Qatar's investments span numerous iconic London landmarks and businesses. The QIA holds a 95% stake in The Shard, Western Europe's tallest building, and co-owns Canary Wharf, a major financial district. Other prominent acquisitions include the luxury department store Harrods, purchased in 2010, and significant stakes in major companies such as Heathrow Airport (20%) and Sainsbury's (14.3%).

The Al-Thani family and Qatari entities also control a collection of high-end hotels, including Claridge's, The Connaught, The Berkeley, The Ritz, and the InterContinental Park Lane. Their extensive private residential portfolio includes luxury mansions in areas like Mayfair and Knightsbridge, leading to Northwestern Mayfair being colloquially known as "Little Doha" due to the concentration of Qatari-owned properties.

The influx of Qatari capital reflects a strategic deployment of its vast oil and gas wealth into global real estate, viewing London as a prime investment opportunity and a location for second residences. This long-term investment strategy has seen the number of properties owned by Qatari individuals in London increase by nearly 50% between 2018 and 2021, solidifying Qatar's substantial and visible presence in the city's property landscape.