Qatar Investment Authority
The Qatar Investment Authority was established in 2005. The QIA controls around $60 billion in assets. The QIA is controlled by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar.
QIA is a Sovereign Wealth Fund devoted to diversification using money from its energy sector to invest in non-energy related sectors. Its investments have mostly been in the real estate market. QIA also invests within Qatar. The QIA goal is to reduce risk from relying on the energy market due to possible energy market downturns. QIA policy is to invest for the long term, with payoffs in 10 to 15 years. The overseas investments tend to focus more on Europe and Asia, with a few investments in the US. In November 2007, Kenneth Shen, QIA’s Head of Strategic and Private Equity, said in an interview with the Financial Times that QIA’s future plans are to invest more heavily in Asia and other emerging markets with less focus on the US.
The QIA's property investments are made through its subsidiary, Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. It has separate management and leadership, but it is chaired by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al Thani, who also controls the QIA. It appears that Diar has around $20 billion in assets. It was formed in 2004.
QIA’s international investments include the London Stock Exchange, Lagardere, Chelsea Barracks, Credit Suisse, Raffles Medical Group, Sainsbury's PLC, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, and EADS.
Investment Strategy
The QIA has been one of the most active Sovereign Wealth Funds over the last few years, buying up stakes in companies and investing in large properties. Rather than focusing on one sector, they have built up stakes across sectors with the exception of energy related assets.