1 week Ago By Qatar Tribune
Qatar tribune Satyendra Pathak Doha A new report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) highlights the extraordinary scale and significance of Qatar’s long-term investment in the United Kingdom. Titled “The Economic Contribution of Qatari Investment in the UK,” the report reveals that Qatari investments supported more than 600,000 direct jobs in 2022, contributed over £3 billion annually in taxes, and generated a wide-reaching economic impact across the country, including significant contributions outside London. The Cebr report analyses the economic footprint of UK-based companies that have received Qatari investment—defined as having more than a 10% equity shareholding—over a 15-year period from 2008 to 2022.
During this time, Qatari investments generated more than £1.3 trillion in cumulative revenue impact across the UK economy. In 2022 alone, Qatari-owned businesses achieved a combined turnover of £127.
2 billion, a figure nearly matching the turnover of the UK’s entire food and beverage manufacturing sector, highlighting the depth of Qatar’s economic engagement in the UK. These investments were responsible for supporting approximately one in every 44 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in the UK, a clear indication of the broad employment impact across multiple sectors. The geographic spread of this contribution is equally noteworthy: over half (53%) of turnover and a third (34%) of Gross Value Added (GVA) from Qatari investments were generated outside London.
This demonstrates that Qatar’s economic partnership extends beyond the capital, driving growth and job creation across regions nationwide. In terms of fiscal contributions, Qatari-owned businesses paid £3.4 billion in taxes to the UK Exchequer in 2022.
Income tax on employee salaries constituted the largest share at £1.1 billion. Retail trade businesses accounted for £2.
2 billion of the total tax contributions, more than all other sectors combined. The construction sector also benefited from Qatar’s investment. Between 2014 and 2022, construction projects funded by Qatari-owned entities generated £5.
1 billion in direct business revenue, with the total economic impact—including direct, indirect, and induced effects—rising to £12.3 billion. These projects contributed £5.
3 billion in GVA, supported more than 70,000 FTE job years, and provided £2.6 billion in employee compensation over the same period. Growth in direct revenue from these projects averaged 11% annually, and each direct job created supported nearly three additional jobs across other sectors.
Beyond direct investments, Qatar has emerged as a critical trading partner for the UK. In 2023, Qatar ranked as the UK’s 23rd largest export destination, with UK exports totaling £3.9 billion.
Power-generating machinery was the largest export category, with the North West of England contributing nearly 19% of the total exports. Exports to Qatar directly generated 20,185 FTE jobs, while, including supply chain effects, the figure rose to 46,741 jobs. UK imports from Qatar peaked at £7.
8 billion in 2022, largely driven by the critical supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The downstream impact of Qatari gas imports supported a turnover of £8.2 billion, a GVA contribution of £2.
5 billion, and approximately 27,700 FTE jobs across various UK industries. Qatari students have also made a significant economic contribution. Between 2018 and 2023, their presence contributed £1.
1 billion to the UK economy through living expenses, tuition fees, and housing costs. In the 2022/23 academic year alone, Qatari students contributed an estimated £223 million. Financial interactions further underscore the strong bilateral ties.
In 2023, Qatari-issued card transactions in the UK totaled £966 million across more than 8.5 million transactions, while remittances from Qatar to the UK reached £303.3 million, reflecting the strong presence of British expatriates in Qatar.
Looking ahead, Qatar’s commitment to the UK remains robust and forward-looking. The State of Qatar has pledged up to £10 billion over five years, starting in 2022, to invest in priority UK sectors including fintech, zero-emission vehicles, life sciences, and cybersecurity. A £1 billion commitment to a UK-Qatar clean energy partnership, announced in December 2024, is set to support climate technology initiatives, including those led by Rolls-Royce, fostering thousands of highly skilled jobs and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in clean energy.
Major real estate projects, such as the Chancery Rosewood hotel opening in Mayfair in 2025 and the redevelopment of 8 Canada Square into a sustainable mixed-use destination from 2027, further illustrate Qatar’s continued investment. Qatar Investment Authority’s (QIA) £500 million investment in Severn Trent is also expected to enhance environmental performance and create 7,000 jobs across the Midlands. The relationship between Qatar and the UK is also expanding into financial services, with a recent agreement aiming to deepen the already thriving investment relationship.
HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the Republic of Iceland, commented: “The State of Qatar and the United Kingdom share an exceptionally strong and unique relationship which stems from historic ties of friendship, which we are committed to advancing for the betterment of our peoples and the cause of global peace, stability and prosperity. “This report demonstrates just how deep and valuable our economic ties truly are. As trading partners of such magnitude, we can mutually support economic development; sharing skills, research, and the significant benefits of our joint success those pursuits in an ever-changing world.
” Nina Skero, CEO of Centre for Economics and Business Research, added: “Cebr’s research shows the many ways in which the UK economy has benefited from close bilateral ties with the State of Qatar. Qatari investments have supported not only £1.3 trillion of economic activity over a 15-year period, but also more than 600,000 direct jobs in a broad range of sectors and regions.
The continued stream of investment is set to support growth in the years to come, which will enhance the UK’s overall economic prospects.” The Cebr report provides an unprecedented, independent analysis of the UK-Qatar economic relationship, based on comprehensive data covering 2008 to 2022. Cebr was given unparalleled access to Qatari institutions to compile the study and has provided critical insights into the pivotal role Qatar plays as a long-term, trusted investment partner to the UK.
Through its diverse and strategic foreign investments, Qatar continues to advance its Qatar National Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification and long-term financial stability. This partnership not only secures Qatar’s future economic resilience but also delivers tangible and widespread benefits to the UK, creating jobs, supporting innovation, and driving sustainable growth across sectors and regions. In conclusion, Qatar’s £120 billion annual contribution underscores the powerful and multifaceted relationship between the two nations—a partnership rooted in shared prosperity, mutual respect, and a shared vision for future growth.
Copy 28/04/2025 10.
