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Financial And Geopolitical Strategy Of Qatar Transforms PSG Into Central Soft Power Asset, Using Oil And Gas Revenues To Expand International Influence, Political Visibility And Global Image Repositioning Over The Last Decade
Flamengo faces PSG this Wednesday (17), at 2 PM Brasília time, at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, in the Intercontinental Cup final. The French team is synonymous with wealth and the use of oil as a way to demonstrate power.
PSG Structure And State Control
Paris Saint-Germain has been controlled since mid-2011 by Qatar Sports Investments, a company linked to Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, a Middle Eastern country with large oil and natural gas reserves.
In practice, PSG’s control is directly associated with the State of Qatar, having at the top of the hierarchy Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, 45 years old, emir, monarch, and head of state of the small Asian nation.
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Tamim is the fourth son of Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who ruled Qatar from 1995 to 2013, during which period the country consolidated its economic influence based on hydrocarbon exploration.
Tamim’s Rise To Power
The current emir became heir to the throne after the resignation in 2003 of his older brother, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, who renounced the right to succession due to lack of interest in holding political office.
Following this decision, Hamad bin Khalifa dedicated about a decade to preparing Tamim, culminating in his abdication in 2013 and the formal transfer of state command to his son.
With his ascension to the throne, Tamim also took control of several strategic assets, including Paris Saint-Germain, which began to function as Qatar’s international sports showcase.
Education And Profile Of The Emir
Before taking power, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani built an academic career in the United Kingdom, graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, a traditional British institution for officer training.
After graduation, he joined the Qatar Armed Forces, achieving a high rank, an experience that became part of his institutional profile as the country’s political and military leader.
A sports enthusiast, Tamim envisioned the creation of Qatar Sports Investments, a company that later acquired PSG and expanded Qatari presence in European football.
Participation In European Clubs
In addition to Paris Saint-Germain, QSI owns 29.6% of Braga in Portugal and the majority stake in Málaga in Spain, consolidating a diversified portfolio in international football.
Despite being the ultimate owner of these clubs, Tamim chooses to delegate daily management, avoiding direct involvement in day-to-day sports and administrative decisions.
At PSG, the presidency is held by Nasser Al Khelaifi, the emir’s right-hand man and also CEO of Qatar Sports Investments, responsible for leading the French club.
Decentralized Management And Global Events
In Málaga, the leadership is in the hands of Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, a relative of Tamim and a member of the royal family, keeping control within the same family nucleus.
In addition to football, the emir has participated in organizing committees that brought major sporting events to Qatar, such as the Asian Games, World Swimming and Handball Championships, and, more recently, the 2022 World Cup.
Tamim is also a frequent presence at international sports arenas, having been seen in recent months at PSG games at the Parc des Princes and at Roland Garros matches in Paris.
Fortune And Main Assets
The exact magnitude of the sheikh’s fortune is considered difficult to measure, as his family has controlled a state with vast energy reserves and diversified investments for decades.
According to Bloomberg, the estimated fortune of the Al Thani family is US$ 355 billion, equivalent to approximately R$ 1.974 trillion, distributed among public and private assets.
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s personal wealth is valued at US$ 2 billion, about R$ 11.12 billion, according to calculations from the same source, a significantly lower figure compared to the family fortune.
Among his most well-known assets is a yacht valued at US$ 400 million, equipped with a helipad, as well as an art gallery featuring works by Paul Cezanne and Andy Warhol.
Completing this asset collection is a wide array of luxury cars and indirect control of Qatar Airways, one of the largest airlines in the world, also belonging to the Qatari royal family.
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