Qatar Sports Investments Takeover (2011)

Lore & Background

In June 2011, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, bought 70% of Paris Saint-Germain's shares through QSi. QSi then became the club's sole owner in March 2012. Nasser Al-Khelaifi has served as chairman of QSi since 2011 and is president of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Parc des Princes felt different that summer of 2011. It wasn't just the humidity of a Parisian June; it was the electric hum of anticipation that had been missing for decades. In the boardroom, the handshake sealed a deal that would ripple across continents. On the pitch, players sensed a shift in the atmosphere—a sudden, tangible weight lifting off their shoulders, replaced by a new, heavy expectation to conquer Europe. The old era of 'almost' was over; the age of certainty had begun.

Reader's Guide

QSi's portfolio includes the completed acquisition of Paris Saint-Germain and its affiliates in 2011, Burrda (a Qatari sports brand established in 2007), and NextStep Marketing. On 10 October 2022, QSi bought 21.67% of the shares of S.C. Braga for €80 million. On 10 January 2023, QSi had enquired about the pre-purchase of West Ham United for April 2023.

Did You Know?

• QSi is one of Qatar's major investment institutions, alongside the sovereign-wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and the Qatar Foundation.
• Nasser Al-Khelaifi is also chairman and CEO of beIN Media Group and president of the Qatar Tennis Federation.
• In 2023, QSi acquired the World Padel Tour to create a new global circuit for padel starting in 2024.
• In December 2025, QSi announced its intention to acquire K.A.S. Eupen from the Qatari-owned Aspire Zone Foundation.