London: HE Lord Mayor of the City of London Alastair King stated that the United Kingdom regards Qatar as a vital investment partner, expressing appreciation for the confidence reflected by Qatar's investments in numerous UK institutions and businesses. He stressed that these investments are not confined to London but extend throughout the UK, with opportunities also available in the southeast of England. This was mentioned during his meeting with HE Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) Chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani and other QBA members.
According to Qatar News Agency, His Excellency commended HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's state visit to the UK in December 2024, celebrating the robust relations between Qatar and Britain across trade, finance, cultural activities, and other fields. He also emphasized efforts to encourage UK businesses to explore and expand into new markets like Qatar, highlighting Britain's expertise in sustainable finance and project financing. He expressed interest in involving Qatari investors in the UK's innovative technological sectors.
Lord Mayor King remarked on the close relationship between London and Doha, noting the active operations of several Qatari banks and institutions in London and the presence of British banks in Qatar. He highlighted the substantial investment of Qatari capital in British financial institutions, some of which are based in Qatar and are attracting British investments. Additionally, he commented on the UK's trade relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), projecting a 16% growth in bilateral trade to nearly £57 billion, underscoring the significant opportunities between the UK and Qatar.
He mentioned the influx of Qatari investments in green finance, an area where the UK considers itself a leader. With £91 billion currently managed in green investment funds, Qatar is actively participating in these funds. HE King invited QBA members to visit London to explore various investment opportunities and assured them of his support in facilitating investment-related processes within the City of London.
HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani described London as a preferred investment destination for Qatari businessmen and emphasized the historic and exceptional bilateral relationship between Doha and London, noting significant growth in economic and commercial ties. He confirmed that QBA members have diversified investments in the UK across sectors such as tourism, retail, construction, education, healthcare, and other productive industries.
Meanwhile, HE UK Ambassador to Qatar Neerav Patel praised the strong and productive relationship between the UK Embassy and the QBA. He emphasized the UK's commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation across all sectors, noting that these relations have reached their highest levels.