A Qatari businessman whose family members are closely linked to the country’s 2022 World Cup plans has refused to pay a $4 billion debt despite losing a series of legal actions.
The last opportunity for Sheikh Fahad bin Ahmad Al Thani to appeal is due to expire at the end of this month as British and US investors seek to claw back an 11-year debt from the businessman and his Fast Trading Group.
Christopher DeLise, the US-based director of Delta Capital Partners, told The National that the failure to hand over the funds called into question Qatar's commitment to uphold international legal judgments.
The Fast Group director is the brother of Khalid, Jassim and Hamad, founder members of Al Gharafa FC, a prominent local club.
Its home ground, Thani bin Jassim Al Gharafa Stadium, recently hosted the Asian Champions league.
Jassim bin Thamer, a cousin, is the president of the club. Sheikh Fahad's mother, Noor, was a close relative of the current emir, Sheikh Tamim.
Mr DeLise said he had personal assurances from Qatar’s Attorney General Ali bin Mohsen that the case would proceed without fear or favour.
“We have purposely avoided implicating other members of the royal family [in connection with] this individual or the World Cup [but] this individual did not act alone; he continued to work with senior members of the royal family,” he said.
“I was told personally by the attorney general of Qatar ‘you’ll get justice through the court system’.
"But this draws a spotlight on the world stage that you can’t get justice by making arguments in Qatar’s courts.”
A British High Court made the award against Sheikh Fahad in 2018 and ruled that the sum due was likely to be $6bn after taking interest into account.
That judgment was accepted by the Qatari court system the following year and the judges said the businessman’s assets had been frozen.
At the end of October, the country’s court of appeal said it could not reverse the full recognition of the UK judgment and that it had validity under Qatari law.
“We have tried to persuade Qatar through diplomatic means as well as through direct negotiations, but I have to say implementation of international rulings by Qatar does not seem to be what they claim,” Mr DeLise said.
Seized funds should be turned over to creditors right away, he said.
“It has now been more than a year and nothing is been turned over,” Mr DeLise said.
Delta believes it can now establish that Sheikh Fahad owns assets in the UK.
As frustration mounts with the lack of action – the loans were first extended by an Anglo-Spanish private office to fund the expansion of the Qatari business – Mr DeLise plans to return to legal action in the UK.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
The specs: 2018 GMC Terrain
Price, base / as tested: Dh94,600 / Dh159,700
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Power: 252hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 353Nm @ 2,500rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.4L / 100km
WITHIN%20SAND
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Moe%20Alatawi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Ra%E2%80%99ed%20Alshammari%2C%20Adwa%20Fahd%2C%20Muhand%20Alsaleh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
MATCH INFO
Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)
Russia 0
