Qatar reviewing London investments after transport ads ban

Qatar has launched a review of its investments in London after the city’s transport authority this week banned the Gulf state’s tourism advertisements on the capital’s buses, taxis, and Underground train system, Saturday’s Financial Times reported.

The paper said the move by Transport for London (TfL) was triggered by concerns over the soccer World Cup host’s stance on LGBT+ rights and its treatment of migrant workers.

The FT quoted a person involved in the Qatari review as saying TfL, which is chaired by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, contacted Q22, the body overseeing the World Cup and Qatar’s tourism authority, this week to inform them of the ban.

The TfL ban “has been interpreted as a message from the mayor’s office that Qatari business is not welcome in London,” the person was quoted as saying.

Qatar is one of the biggest investors in London through its sovereign wealth fund.

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) owns Harrods, the department store, and the Shard skyscraper, and is co-owner of Canary Wharf. The Gulf state also owns the Savoy and Grosvenor House hotels, a 20% stake in Heathrow Airport, and a 14% stake in Sainsbury’s (SBRY.L), Britain’s second biggest supermarket group.