The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has announced it will substantially increase its investment activities, focusing on high-return opportunities in sectors including technology, healthcare, real estate and infrastructure in the US, UK and Asia. The QIA manages $500bn in assets with this pot expected to double in size over the next five years. This is due to a surge in revenue from the country’s expanded liquefied natural gas (LNG) production which is set to grow from 77 million to 126 million tonnes annually by 2027.
This announcement comes following the fund’s five-year review where global economic trends and resource allocation are examined and strategy updated. The fund does not lack confidence, doubling its own workforce since 2018 which now stands at 700 employees. Its portfolio includes high-end brands including Harrods, as well as stakes in Canary Wharf and Heathrow Airport, and shares in Volkswagen. It has also notably backed Elon Musk’s Starlink and xAI ventures.
While optimistic about its global strategy, QIA does remain cautious of geopolitical developments, regulatory challenges and the complexities of investing in sensitive technologies. The fund’s goal is to navigate these issues to maintain a balanced and diversified portfolio to minimise risk from reliance on energy prices.
Qatar-based opportunities coming from the fund’s predicated growth will likely arise in sectors that are current priorities of the Qatari government: Infrastructure, tech, media, telecommunications, real estate, private companies and global equities.
Gulf Economist Staff Writer