Qatar announce £5bn investment ahead of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU

One of the UK’s largest investors has pledged to commit another £5 billion to Britain, saying it is “optimistic” about the future of the country outside the European Union.

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has already invested £40 billion in the UK, including owning a 95 percent stake in the Shard, and stakes in The Savoy and Sainsbury’s supermarket. The further investment was announced by a delegation to the UK in London on Monday, led by the emirate’s prime minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Qatar will invest £5 billion in Britain over the next few years, but declined to specify exactly where the investment will go. However, Ali Shareef al Emadi, the country’s finance minister, told the BBC that it would not rule out investment into HS2.

“Currently the UK is our first investment destination and it is the largest investment destination for Qatari investors, both public and private,” al Emadi said.

“Mainly this investment will focus on infrastructure sectors, technology, energy and real estate.”

The head of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has said before that Britain’s exit from the European Union created investment opportunities. The investment will come as a welcome boost to the British government as it prepares to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty of Wednesday, initiating the process for leaving the EU.