Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company
Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (Qatari Diar) is an investment vehicle wholly owned by the Qatar Investment Authority. 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 launched in March 2005, and in a relatively short period of time has undertaken a number of sizable projects. Currently these include affordable housing plans with Barwa (a joint-venture partner in which Qatari Diar has a 45% stake), a new Doha Convention Centre and Tower, the Ras Al-Hadd eco-tourism resort in Oman, the Al-Houara district in Tangiers, and the Lusail community in Qatar.
In June 2007 Qatari Diar was part of a consortium that bought Chelsea Barracks, home of the Coldstream Guards, for £900 million, making it the most expensive development site ever in the UK.