Qatar’s worldwide spending spree

QATAR may have found itself increasingly politically isolated in the Middle East over accusations of funding terrorism.

But that has not stopped the oil-rich country from extending its influence elsewhere, particularly through sport.

From football clubs to department stores, golf tournaments and car festivals, there are few things the Qataris have not invested in.

The country’s leader, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, was educated in Britain. He went to Sherborne School, Dorset, before attending Sandhurst, the British Army officers academy, and Qatar has invested heavily in the UK. Upmarket department store Harrods is owned by the Qatari royal family and in 2014, it was announced Goodwood racecourse had entered a ten-year sponsorship deal with Qatar Racing and Equestrian club, worth at least £2.5million a year.

Qatar is also one of the main sponsors at Royal Ascot. The county’s Qatar Airways has a £48million a year shirt deal with Barcelona and, in May this year, it was named as an official partner of football’s governing body, Fifa, until 2022.

Neighbours United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia severed ties with Qatar earlier this year over its alleged support for groups such as IS and Al Qaeda.