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AL MIRQAB Yacht – Stunning $300 Million Superyacht

He commissioned AL MIRQAB, delivered in 2008 from the German shipyard Kusch Yachts and designed by Winch Design, a UK-based design company.

The AL MIRQAB yacht blazed a trail in yacht building trends at the time of its construction because of the numerous large-scale amenities included in its structure.

AL MIRQAB yacht interior

The AL MIRQAB yacht was designed by Winch Design to reflect a perfect cross between a Bentley and the Starship Enterprise, with its palatial family-orientated interior.

She accommodates 55 crew members and 18 guests.

A wide variety of amenities makes this yacht a trailblazer of design.

There is an internal swimming pool with balconies, a large gym, a sauna, and a hairdressing salon.

A notable feature of AL MIRQAB is the underwater viewing room, forward of the pool.

This yacht feature is a family favorite with its pirate’s theme design.

The deck salon has a terrace feel with fountains and casual seating around the sculpture as a centrepiece.

The exterior was designed by Tim Heywood Design, with permanent cantilevered sun wings.

The helicopter pad is fitted with a refueling station that was a first when it was built.

The aft was developed from other projects with additional entertaining and relaxation spaces which delivers a stately arrival and departure for the yacht’s guests.

The steel hull is paired with underwater lights that were a first when it was built.

The mast that towers above the yacht’s superstructure is shaped like a funnel so that the fumes from the engines do not affect guests.

The family lounge is designed to reflect butterflies with a gentle and relaxing concept.

The construction was executed by Kusch Yachts at their shipyard based in Germany.

The design was developed in 2008 with Peters Werft leading the team.

AL MIRQAB is the biggest yacht Kusch Yachts have built at its impressive length of 133m(436.3 ft).

Specifications

AL MIRQAB is 133m(436.3 ft) in length, with a 19m(62.3ft) beam. She displaces 9604GT and has a max speed of 23kn with her five diesel-electric Wartsila engines.

Her cruising speed is sustained at 21kn. She is one of the largest superyachts in the world.

The at anchor stabilizers give a significant amount of comfort to the guests during their experience on the yacht. AL MIRQAB yacht has an annual $20 – $30 million running cost.

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Meet the deep-pocketed prince of the Qatari royal family who aims to buy Manchester United for $6 billion. Although he resigned from being a king, he lives like one. The 40-yr-old travels the world in his $300 million superyacht & controls extremely powerful companies.

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Huge £300m superyacht owned by Qatari royal family spotted in Cornwall among heatwave staycation crowds

• Published : 15:35, 5 Aug 2020
• Updated : 12:03, 23 May 2023

A £300 million-pound superyacht belonging to the Qatari Royal Family has docked in the UK.

The Katara, one of the largest mega super yachts in the world, was spotted berthed in Falmouth, Cornwall , next to luxury cruise liner The World.

It is believed the yacht is owned by the 40-year-old current Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani or by Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, chairman of the Katara Hospitality Group.

The 7,922 ton yacht, complete with helicopter deck, satellite domes, tenders, and jet skis, was built in Germany at the Lurssen yard.

She is powered by two 9,925 hp engines, giving Katara a top speed of 20 knots.

The boat is due to leave Cornwall tomorrow, according to the Falmouth Harbour Commissioners' website.

Up to 34 guests can stay on board the yacht and it has capacity for 95 crew members.

The yacht is one of the largest in the world.

It is 124m long and generally cruises at about 20 knots.

Katara superyacht docks in Cornwall

Owned by the 40-year-old current Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani or by Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani.

Made in Lussen, Germany.

Weighs 7,922 tonnes, and 124m.

It has 17 cabins and five decks.

Features a helicopter deck, satellite domes, tenders, and jet skis.

Powered by two 9,925 hp engines, giving Katara a top speed of 20 knots.

34 guests can stay on board the yacht and it has capacity for 95 crew members.

Made in 2010, and designed by Albert Pinto and Espen Oeino.

According to Charterworld.com, the boat, which flies under the Qatari flag, was launched in April 2010.

"Katara motoryacht was built at the German shipyard Lurssen, who are the largest high quality builder of large mega yachts, such as this formerly called project Crystal," the yacht's description reads.

"Her impressive naval architecture was designed by the Lurssen in-house naval architects, with the exterior design by the world renowned designer Espen Oeino."

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani took over from his dad as the Emir of Qatar seven years ago.

He is worth about £939million, half of his dad’s estimated net worth of £1.9billion.

The family's wealth comes from the Qatar Investment Authority, which controls oil and gas reserves.

CORNISH NASTY

Meanwhile, Cornwall Council has slammed "ignorant" visitors for refusing to wear masks as thousands descended on beaches this weekend.

Worried locals fear a regional lockdown will be enforced and blasted huge crowds for turning the south coast into "Benidorm on steroids".

Cornwall  Council deputy leader Adam Paynter said there are fears in the community of a rise in  coronavirus  cases due to the inlux of vistors.

He also hit out at "ignorant" tourists who have been refusing to wear masks as they head to the south west to soak up the 37.8C heat.

Speaking on LBC, Councillor Paynter said: "I've heard two different incidents where people have been overheard saying: 'Well, I'm not going to wear a mask. 

"I came down here to get away from all of that'.

"I think that's pretty ignorant thinking that coronavirus doesn't exist down here."

Mr Paynter said he has heard reports of visitors shrugging off face covers as they claim they are on holiday to "get away" from the outbreak.

Cornwall has seen "unprecedented" numbers of visitors flocking to its beaches - leaving some locals too scared to leave their homes.

The superyacht has docked in the UK as a heatwave hits this week.

Sun-seekers flocked to coastal hotspots as an 'African heatflare' prepares to blast the country.

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According to the Met Office, temperatures will rise throughout the week, with a 60 per cent chance of heatwave conditions in London and the South East on Friday.

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"It's going to feel warmer for all parts of the UK but particularly hot for southern and central England."

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Sheikh who secured World Cup for Qatar has UK links going back decades

Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani’s success is built on a remarkable network of political and business connections

H e has the clout to summon Tony Blair to Claridge’s for late-night business negotiations, helped engineer the downfall of the Libyan despot Muammar Gaddafi and orchestrated his tiny desert country’s successful bid to host the World Cup.

But until this year, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, Qatar’s former prime minister turned billionaire investor, might have escaped many people’s notice.

In June 2022, it was claimed that the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, had accepted €3m in bags full of cash between 2011 and 2015 – donations to his charity , from the man known variously as HBJ and “the man who bought London” .

The report, by the Sunday Times, threw a spotlight on a 63-year-old whose remarkable network of political and business connections is evidence of guile and staying power amid political turmoil.

He not only survived the 1995 bloodless coup against the regime he had served but remained at the heart of Qatari domestic and foreign policy, as the tiny emirate – whose citizen population is akin to that of Coventry – thrust itself on to the world stage .

His links to the UK go back decades and have not been without controversy. Thani was foreign minister in 1996, when Qatar signed a £500m arms contract with the British defence company BAE Systems. It later emerged that the deal involved the transfer of £7m into two Jersey trusts that he owned.

When the Jersey authorities launched an investigation into the payments, according to reports by the Observer , the British government warned them to back off or risk harming UK-Qatari relations.

Thani ended up paying the Jersey authorities £6m voluntarily, without admitting any wrongdoing. Blair’s government denied reports that it put pressure on Jersey officials to drop the case.

Blair and Thani would go on to develop a close working relationship. Between 2004 and 2009, a period during which Thani graduated from foreign minister to prime minister, Qatar’s Al Udeid airbase became a staging post for US and UK military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After Blair was succeeded by Gordon Brown in 2007, Thani would play a critical role in British financial stability too. Qatar invested in Barclays during the financial crisis in 2008, when Thani was prime minister, sparing the government the expense of bailing out the bank, as it had to with Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Halifax Bank of Scotland. Thani’s personal investment vehicle, Challenger, took a stake in the bank too.

Three former Barclays executives were later accused of devising fraudulent advisory services agreements to disguise payments worth £322m to Qatar in exchange for the investment. They were found not guilty in February 2020 and there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Thani or Qatar. Barclays is now appealing against a regulatory fine over the deal.

With the globally influential Thani at the helm, the emirate became a pivotal player in political upheaval in the Gulf.

Qatar backed efforts to depose Gaddafi and supported the Arab spring uprisings, including through the state-owned news channel Al Jazeera .

Thani also allegedly conceded that under his premiership Qatar “maybe” financed the al- Nusra Front , the Syrian branch of al-Qaida, without his knowledge.

Before leaving office, he was reunited with Blair in 2012, when a weary group of bankers and executives reached an impasse over the proposed £50bn merger of the mining firms Glencore and Xstrata.

The former British PM was called to late-night talks at Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair to help broker a deal with Thani, who controlled Qatar’s stake in Xstrata and was demanding improved terms on the deal.

Blair broke the deadlock and reportedly walked away with an advisory fee of up to $1m from the negotiating parties for a few hours’ work.

The incident epitomised what one person who has done business with Thani described as a relentless will to win, deploying his unrivalled connections to achieve his goals.

It also showed that he could pull strings in the highest places to leverage his country’s vast gas riches.

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Not only did he preside over Qatar’s controversial bid to host the 2022 World Cup , but he masterminded the purchase of prestige assets such as Harrods, the Shard and stakes in blue-chip companies such as the London Stock Exchange and the British Airways owner IAG.

Although he stepped down in 2013, his personal business dealings have run in parallel with those of the Qatari state. He has amassed a valuable portfolio of London property and hotels – useful for a man who reportedly has two wives and 15 children. The network of British business interests is run from 67 Brook Street, a Mayfair address that was once home to the Bee Gees.

The flagship of his portfolio is the Maybourne Hotel Group , including Claridge’s and the Connaught, which he owns in partnership with the former emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, his friend and ally. In 2021, he also bought a £200m stake in Richard Caring’s Caprice Holdings, which includes the Ivy and Sexy Fish restaurants, and the private members’ club Annabel’s.

His London residential property includes Forbes House, a mansion he is said to be developing into the capital’s first £300m home and a triplex apartment at the One Hyde Park development that he financed in partnership with the Candy brothers. Both are owned via offshore companies, Land Registry records suggest.

His interests outside the UK include a stake in Deutsche Bank and extensive business interests in Qatar. Khalifa famously said that while he ran Qatar, Thani owned it.

At times, it has been unclear whether Thani is a businessman, a diplomat, or a mixture of the two.

In 2014, he bought an 80% stake in Heritage Oil, despite being listed as a “counsellor” at the Qatari embassy.

In theory, diplomats are prohibited from commercial dealings for personal profit but his lawyers argued the purchase did not constitute ongoing trade activity.

Two years later, the UK high court ruled he could not be sued in London over claims that agents acting on his behalf falsely imprisoned and tortured a British citizen who claimed that his land, in Qatar, had been wrongfully seized. Thani invoked diplomatic immunity but also denied the claims. “Mr al-Attiya’s extremely serious allegations are, without exception, a combination of distortion, exaggeration and wholesale fabrication,” his lawyers said.

According to the Panama Papers leak of offshore secrets, Thani used a shell company to the 133-metre Al Mirqab yacht in 2002. The vessel, worth $300m, reportedly has a helicopter landing pad, Jacuzzi, cinema, gym and spa.

In May 2015, he bought Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O) for $179.4m including fees, then a record price for a painting at auction.

The Guardian has approached him for comment.

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H.E. Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani

Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Arabic: جاسم بن حمد آل ثاني‎; born 25 August 1978) is the former heir apparent of Qatar. He is the third son of the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the first child of the Emir with his second wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Missned.

Early life and education

Sheikh Jassim is the third son of the former emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.His mother is Moza bint Nasser Al Missned, second wife of his father.He was educated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He attended International College, Sherborne School in Dorset.

After graduation Sheikh Jassim was commissioned as 2nd-lieutenant in the Qatari armed forces on 9 August 1996. He was appointed heir apparent of Qatar on 23 October 1996. He replaced Mishaal bin Hamad Al Thani, his older half-brother, in the post.Jassim renounced his rights in favour of his younger brother Sheikh Tamim on 5 August 2003.

Jassim was the personal representative of the former emir. Sheikh Jassim is also honorary president of the Qatar National Cancer Society (QNCS) since 1997. Furthermore, he has been chair of the high committee for coordination and follow up since 1999, chair of the supreme council for the environment and natural resources since 2000. He is also patron of Aspire Academy since 2003.

Marriage and children

Sheikh Jassim married Sheikha Bothaina bint Hamad Al Thani, the daughter of Shaikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani, at Al Wajbah Palace, Doha, on 30 March 2006. They have seven children, three sons and four daughters:

• Sheikha Moza bint Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (born February 2007)
• Sheikh Fahad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 2008)
• Sheikha Hind bint Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (born December 2009)
• Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 2010)
• Sheikh Tamim bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (born 2014)
• Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (born October 2015)
• Sheikha Dhai bint Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani (born January 2018)

Titles, styles and honours

• Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (1978–1995)
• His Excellency Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (1995–1996)
• His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Crown Prince of Qatar (1996–2003)
• His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (2003 – present)

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Sheikh Jassim’s Manchester United takeover bid, the Qatar issue and what it means for Ratcliffe

The sale of Manchester United took a significant step forward late on Friday when the Glazer family received a bid from the son of the former prime minister of Qatar.

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the chairman of Qatari bank QIB, submitted a bid to complete a full takeover. He is going head-to-head with Ineos billionaire Jim Ratcliffe for ownership of the club, although it’s possible there are other unknown bidders in addition to them.

It is unknown how much Sheikh Jassim, who says he is a lifelong Manchester United supporter, has offered and much of the conversation in the coming days and weeks will be about whether the bid is, as he claims, truly independent of the Qatari state.

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Raine Group, the investment banking firm in charge of the sale on behalf of current owners the Glazer family, had set a soft deadline of 10pm UK time (5pm ET) for official interest to be formalised in writing. But at this stage the bid is an indicative one, meaning a more precise valuation will be made if United invite them in to look at the club’s numbers. Sheikh Jassim has provided proof of funds as part of this soft deadline, but no deposit.

A statement from the Qatari banker read: “Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani today confirmed his submission of a bid for 100 per cent of Manchester United Football Club. The bid plans to return the Club to its former glories both on and off the pitch, and – above all – will seek to place the fans at the heart of Manchester United Football Club once more.

“The bid will be completely debt free via Sheikh Jassim’s Nine Two Foundation, which will look to invest in the football teams, the training centre, the stadium and wider infrastructure, the fan experience and the communities the Club supports.

“The vision of the bid is for Manchester United Football Club to be renowned for footballing excellence, and regarded as the greatest football club in the world.

“More details of the bid will be released, when appropriate, if and when the bid process develops.”

In another twist on Saturday, it emerged that the US hedge fund Elliott Investment Management had made contact with Raine to indicate it would be available to provide possible financing for a takeover, although it is not bidding for the club itself.

Now the Glazers will decide if any of the proposals appeal to them and whether to proceed with the process. There is no particular time limit for them to do that.

So who is the sheikh, what happens now and what does this all mean for the club and Ratcliffe? Stick with us — there’s a lot to explain.

Analysis by Adam Crafton, Laurie Whitwell, Matt Slater and Dan Sheldon.

Who is Sheikh Jassim and what is this bid about?

Sheikh Jassim’s bid was submitted for consideration just a couple of hours before the soft deadline.

On Friday night, sources close to the bid who spoke on the condition of anonymity insisted Sheikh Jassim is a Manchester United supporter and said his vehicle to buy the club is named the Nine Two Foundation because of the club’s famous Class of ‘92 generation featuring David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, the Neville brothers and Paul Scholes. The same sources were unable to specify when Sheikh Jassim attended a match at Old Trafford but said he has previously visited Manchester United’s home ground.

The link to the Class of ‘92 opens obvious questions as to whether David Beckham, a paid ambassador of the Qatari state, is involved in the bid but sources both close to the bid and to Beckham insisted on Friday night that was not the case, with the bid also insisting that no other member of the Class of ’92 has been approached.

Sources close to the Class of 92, who wished to remain anonymous to protect their relationships, told The Athletic that they had received no approach from people connected to the Qatari bid to become involved.

At this stage, a valuation of the bid has not been disclosed but reports have oscillated between £4-6bn since United were put up for sale in November. At this stage, the Qatari investor is yet to have his bid accepted and is also not required to put any money down as a deposit just yet.

The club made some information available to prospective investors but it was limited and the Qatari will now, if invited, receive broader access to United’s finances and undergo due diligence. The bid, at this stage, has not been accepted or declined.

As for the man himself, not too much is known of him yet but the press release on his behalf last night said that he was educated in the UK at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and graduated as an officer cadet.

What is he claiming he will deliver if successful?

According to Sheikh Jassim, United will become free of debt, one of the major causes of unrest among fans under the Glazers. The American family’s leveraged buyout plunged United into the red and the total owed currently stands at £580m. This has impinged on transfer spending, even though United are still one of the biggest spenders in world football.

He is also vowing to invest in the local area and improve the stadium and training facilities. Old Trafford has not seen major renovation since 2005, while Carrington has fallen behind the best in class. United have enlisted master planners for the stadium, with a cost for rebuilds — depending on the scale of work — estimated at £1bn to £2bn.

Is this really separate from the Qatari state?

If you loved the Newcastle soap opera, then you’ll be rushing back for more with this one.

The bid insisted on Friday night that all the money for this multi-billion cash purchase of arguably the most popular sports team on the planet is coming from the pocket of one private individual through his foundation.

However, The Athletic has previously reported that the Qatari Emir, Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, decided in the latter stages of the World Cup (perceived as a giant success on domestic soil) that Qatar should grow its ambitions in sport further.

The Qatar Sport Investment fund (QSI) already owns Paris Saint-Germain but the Emir decreed that Qatar needs boots on the ground in the biggest domestic league, the Premier League . This mission was initially sent down to the QSI chief (and PSG president) Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who was tasked with initially exploring minority stakes in Tottenham , as well as an interest in Manchester United.

The problem, however, is that Qatar is not yet ready to give up on PSG and UEFA regulations complicate matters because two clubs majority-owned by the same entity cannot compete in the same European club competitions. As such, QSI could not have acquired Manchester United and continued to enter both PSG and Manchester United into the Champions League at the same time.

It should be said that Ratcliffe may face similar issues if he were to take control of Manchester United, since he already owns Ligue 1 club Nice, which has qualified for the Europa League and Champions League in recent seasons and is currently competing in the Europa Conference League.

The Qatari experiment then stretched further, with QIA (the Qatar Investment Authority, of which Al-Khelaifi is also a board member) reported to be exploring moves for United but perhaps satisfying separation between QSI and QIA may have been a more robust challenge than creating an entirely new vehicle under Sheikh Jassim.

On Friday evening, the bid insisted that its funding will not come from the government of Qatar and that money from the club will not be returned to the state of Qatar, but rather profits will be invested into Manchester United as part of a strategic long-term investment plan. The bid also say they are confident that their lawyers have sufficiently understood the rule book and that there is no overlap between QSI, QIA and Sheikh Jassim’s vehicle and that in terms of the legal definition of control, they believe they will comply with both Premier League and UEFA regulations.

Sceptics of the takeover may point out that Sheikh Jassim, while portrayed as a private individual in Qatar, is also the son of a former Qatari prime minister and the chair of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), of which the Qatar Investment Authority (the sovereign wealth fund of the state of Qatar) retains a 17.17 per cent stake. The bid will be seeking to persuade UEFA, the Premier League and the more curious parts of the media that he is not benefiting from any state investment.

Are there concerns over human rights?

Well, it depends if you accept the proposition that Sheikh Jassim and his fund are entirely separate from the Qatari state. If you do, then the most interesting connection would be that he is the son of the former Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.

If you are less convinced by the claims of separation from the state of Qatar, then it is a case of recalling the controversies that surrounded the 2022 World Cup hosted in the country.

The tournament was dogged by allegations of abuses of the migrant workers who built the infrastructure and stadiums for the tournament.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino told the European Parliament in 2022 that only three migrant workers died in the building of the eight World Cup stadiums in Qatar, based on numbers supplied by the host nation.

Yet Nicholas McGeehan of human-rights organisation FairSquare previously called that figure a “wilful attempt to mislead” as the stadiums only account for about one per cent of World Cup-related construction in Qatar.

Human Rights Watch said the correct number will never be known because “Qatari authorities have failed to investigate the causes of deaths of thousands of migrant workers, many of which are attributed to ‘natural causes’.”

Nepal’s labour ministry alone says 2,100 of its citizens died in Qatar of all causes since 2010 — the year the 2022 World Cup was initially awarded to the country.

Hassan Al-Thawadi, the Qatari official responsible for delivery of the World Cup, caused further confusion when he said the number of migrant workers who have died on World Cup-related projects is “between 400 and 500”.

“The estimate is around 400,” Al-Thawadi told TV news show Piers Morgan Uncensored. “Between 400 and 500. I don’t have the precise number, that is something that is being discussed.”

The Qatar World Cup’s chief executive Nasser Al Khater also responded to a question about the death of a migrant worker during the World Cup by telling reporters that “death is a natural part of life,” as well as saying journalists shouldn’t “bang on” about the topic.

Separately, the Qatari state has been criticised for its victimization of the LGBT community, where homosexuality is outlawed, and for its treatment of women.

On Friday, Rainbow Devils (the officially recognised LGBT Manchester United supporters group) released a statement on social media. They said: “Rainbow Devils believe any bidder seeking to buy Manchester United must commit to making football a sport for everyone, including LGBTQ+ supporters, players and staff. We therefore have deep concern over some of the bids that are being made. We are watching the current process closely with this in mind.”

What don’t we know?

The bid amount is not being shared yet. Those involved in the bid indicated they would not overpay for the club even though it is a rare chance to own one of the world’s biggest clubs. On the flipside, the Glazers are determined to get the highest price possible and insiders claim they are prepared to keep control of United if their valuation is not met.

The timeline for possible purchase is also yet to be established.

What about Ratcliffe?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS were the only potential bidder to publicly confirm their interest in buying the club ahead of Friday and they then submitted their bid before the deadline, claiming they would put the ‘Manchester back into Manchester United’.

“We have formally put ourselves into the process,” a spokesman for Ratcliffe confirmed to The Times last month. A key part of Ratcliffe’s bid is that anything borrowed to buy the club will be borne by Ineos rather than United, meaning there will be no new debt on their balance sheet.

Ratcliffe, a lifelong United fan, also made a late attempt to buy Chelsea last year. In addition to Nice, INEOS also owns FC Lausanne in Switzerland and Racing Club Abidjan of the Ivory Coast.

Ratcliffe is a petrochemicals billionaire and one of Britain’s richest people.

His INEOS company has annual revenues of $65billion (£54bn) and Ratcliffe’s own net worth is £6.1bn, according to the 2022 Sunday Times Rich List.

The 70-year-old hails from Oldham, Greater Manchester and told the Financial Times in October: “I’m a lifelong Manchester United fan. I was there in that most remarkable match in 1999 in Barcelona. That is deeply etched in my mind”.

Ratcliffe appears to be a hands-on owner.

“Jim is involved in all decisions,” one former Nice employee recently told The Athletic .

His younger brother Bob is too, running INEOS’ football operations.

We have a couple of reads about United’s potential new owners so feel free to make a cup of tea, find a comfy spot and get stuck in.

How has he done with his other clubs? What kind of owner would he make?

What now? What’s the timeframe?

Friday, February 17 was only a ‘soft’ deadline.

As it is the Glazers running this show, there would be nothing to stop them from extending the deadline should the offers fail to meet their aspirations.

Raine was targeting a price of £6billion to £7billion ($7.2bn to $8.4bn), and there remains scepticism in the industry about that fee being achieved.

If there are proposals that appeal, however, the bidders will be granted full access to United accounts so proper due diligence can be carried out. There is no time limit on this step, although some feel everything ought to be wrapped up before the football season is over.

Aren’t Newcastle owned by a sovereign wealth fund?

Two Premier League clubs are linked to sovereign wealth funds. Saudi Arabia ’s Public Investment Fund (the PIF), owns 80 per cent of Newcastle United. Manchester City are part of the City Football Group, which is majority owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the board of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund and half-brother of the president of the UAE.

In Manchester United’s case, if the QIA — the country’s sovereign wealth fund — were to push forward in their attempts to purchase a stake in Manchester United, establishing — and proving — a separation between them and QSI, who own PSG, would be central to adhering to UEFA’s club ownership regulations. That QSI is a direct subsidiary of QIA and that Nasser El Khelaifi sits on the board of QIA while being chairman of QSI illustrates how difficult that may prove. Though Newcastle had no such problems despite the PIF being chaired by Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Are owners allowed to own multiple clubs?

Yes. And no.

Of the 20 current Premier League teams, 10 are part of a multi-club model. Across Europe, other leagues are already wise to the trick. A combined 20 clubs from Italy’s Serie A , Ligue 1 in France and La Liga are part of multi-club models, with the former, replete with its own American investment, leading the way.

Even the German Bundesliga , famously resistant to outside investment and home of the 50+1 ownership model, has three clubs with links to others — Augsburg, Kaiserslautern and RB Leipzig .

Clubs view the strategy as a tool that can help to circumvent post-Brexit Governing Body Endorsement rules, while also being a useful way to develop academy players who would otherwise not be able to play first-team football.

However, under UEFA regulations, if two clubs majority-owned by the same entity qualify for competitions such as the Champions League, only one of the teams is allowed to enter.

That is the result of a landmark case from 2000 involving ENIC — the company businessman Joe Lewis purchased Tottenham Hotspur through. It was ruled that ENIC’s minority shareholding in Greek club AEK Athens and its majority stake in Slavia Prague meant that both couldn’t play in the same European competition.

That would mean any investment related to PSG’s owners into the Premier League would have to come with “non-decisive influence” or a reduction in influence in Paris for both to be eligible to participate in Europe.

The Premier League board has the power to suspend a club “if either directly or indirectly a person acquires a significant interest in that club while such person either directly or indirectly holds any holding in any class of shares of another club.”

The Premier League considers “significant” to be anything more than a 10 per cent shareholding.

So this doesn’t affect Qatar’s ownership of PSG?

QSI sources, who wished not to be named when relaying private conversations, previously insisted to The Athletic they have no intention in the short-to-medium term to step away from PSG. They have pointed to the fact club president Al-Khelaifi is attempting to oversee a cultural overhaul at the club and Sheikh Jassim’s eagerness to prove that this bid has nothing to do with QSI means change at PSG is very unlikely.

In his address to staff in January, Al-Khelaifi spoke of plans for the next decade. He has shaken up his board and a new training ground will open this summer, which is a desperately needed improvement on the Camp des Loges, which has been criticised by several former head coaches for its paucity of top-class innovations and facilities.

There are intentions to sell small stakes in PSG during this calendar year, with up to 15 per cent likely to be sold in total, possibly across two investors. Al-Khelaifi told CNN during the 2022 World Cup that his fund is open to selling “minority shares, strategic shares”.

The club are keen to bring in more know-how in their investment base, especially in building a global business. Ambitions to grow in the US are seen as crucial in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

Didn’t Qatar want Tottenham too?

In the first week of January, Al-Khelaifi met in London with the Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy for exploratory conversations, as first reported by CBS. On the agenda was a possible minority investment into Tottenham by Qatar, with percentages of up to 15 per cent initially on the table. Al-Khelaifi spent two weeks in London overall.

Tottenham chairman Levy believes Tottenham are worth at least the same as Chelsea, considering the club’s state-of-the-art stadium, training ground, London location and frequent qualification for the Champions League in recent years, meaning that a valuation of around £2.5bn ($3.1bn) — as Chelsea sold for — has been mooted.

Tottenham acknowledge that Levy and Al-Khelaifi frequently meet when they are in the same city, but categorically denied that the pair have spoken about the equity of the London club.

Have I seen Sheikh Jassim’s father in the news for anything else?

Possibly. Last year, The Sunday Times revealed King Charles III — then Prince Charles — accepted three lots of cash, totaling €3million (£2.7m; $3.2m), between 2011 and 2015. On one occasion, it was reported the money was delivered in Fortnum & Mason carrier bags.

The funds were deposited into King Charles III’s charitable fund and there is no suggestion the payments were illegal. Sheikh Hamad’s lawyers declined to comment when approached by The Sunday Times.

Sheikh Hamad served as Qatar’s prime minister between 2007 and 2013, overseeing the oil-rich Gulf state’s investments in Harrods and London’s Olympic Village.

Remind me how we got here in the first place?

The Raine Group, an investment banking firm, is acting as United’s exclusive financial advisor, which means it has a brief to get the best deal for the Glazers. The person leading these talks on their behalf is Joe Ravitch, co-founder and partner of Raine.

Ravitch, a New Yorker, had the same role in the Chelsea sale this past summer and informed people believe the blueprint in place then will be followed again.

Despite being a distressed asset due to the UK government sanctioning outgoing owner Roman Abramovich, Chelsea sold for £2.5billion because several bidders joined the auction. That figure was above expectations and as the dust settles, members of hierarchies at rival clubs have let it be known they feel Todd Boehly and his consortium overpaid.

Nevertheless, that market appetite to own a Premier League club is said to have encouraged the Glazers, and Ravitch is described as confident a much larger sum can be achieved at United.

Raine is aiming for a full sale in the first quarter of 2023 at a price between £6billion and £7billion. Pushed for an update in Doha, Avram Glazer said: “That’s the update, it’s the process and the process is proceeding.”

Whether that money and timetable can be achieved, only time will tell — and there are people in the City of London who believe such a valuation far surpasses reality.

Why are the Glazers selling now?

After riding through so many storms, from the green and gold protests of 2010 and the parallel campaign by the Red Knights, to the risky IPO launch on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012, to Mancunian billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposals in the summer, the lingering question is: why have the Glazers decided to sell now?

More specifically, why have Joel and Avram become open to the idea? Because the other four Glazer siblings have wanted to cash in for a long time. One source, who remains anonymous to protect their position, says that rather than go through the tortuous process to take United public 10 years ago, Edward, Kevin, Bryan and Darcie Glazer would have preferred to sell up entirely then.

Undisputed is that Joel and Avram tried to buy out their siblings last summer. That is what those talks with Apollo, a private equity firm, were really about, rather than finding funding for a stadium rebuild. Joel and Avram would have needed to raise an enormous sum of money, however.

The other four siblings hold between them 71,701,268 of the Class B shares that are worth 10 times the voting rights of the Class A shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The share price on August 17, when news broke of the Apollo talks, was $13.67, meaning the cumulative portion for Edward, Kevin, Bryan and Darcie was worth $980million. Darcie also has 603,806 Class A shares, equating to another $8.3million.

The theory is that Joel and Avram felt letting their brothers and sister go would free them to run United in a more unified, streamlined manner. Having four voices on the board whose focus has been on realising the value of their stakes, rather than the betterment of the club — be it infrastructure redevelopment or squad spending — clogged progression.

That would be a generous reading for Joel and Avram, given they have not shown any determination to implement genuine, lasting improvements at personal cost.

So why now? Only the Glazers know though the inability to buy out their siblings, the significant cost of improving Old Trafford and the club’s rising debt are all seen as factors.

What sort of profit would the Glazer family make if United are sold?

The Glazers bought the club for £790m in 2005, using £270m of their own money and leveraging the rest as debt on the club. In the years since they have combined made £450m from the IPO, share sales, and dividends, while still retaining 69 per cent ownership of the club.

Were they to achieve their targeted £6bn price, their share would equate to £4.14bn. The jump from £270m to £4.59bn means they will have made their money 17 times over.

Why are United worth so much more than Chelsea?

Eyeballs, it is all about eyeballs. Measuring clubs’ fanbases is a notoriously unscientific exercise — you basically claim as many as you can plausibly get away with — but whichever method you use, Manchester United have more fans than Chelsea. By some measures, they have more than anyone. So, that is more merchandise, more tickets, more memberships, more noodle partners.

How do you buy a Premier League football club?

Anybody wishing to buy a Premier League club must first take the ‘Owners’ and Directors’ Test’ (OADT). In the Premier League’s own words: “The Owners’ and Directors’ Test outlines requirements that would prohibit an individual from becoming an owner or director of a club”.

Essentially, the test is a list of requirements any prospective owner , part-owner or club director must meet, in order to keep crooks or other untrustworthy people out of the game. The most important element of the Owners and Directors test is a checklist of “disqualifying events” that would rule out a potential owner or director.

The vast majority of these are pretty obvious: Are you allowed to be a director under UK company law? Do you have control or influence over another English club? Do you have an unspent conviction for an offence of dishonesty? Are you on the sex offenders’ register? Have you or a company you are involved with gone bust? Are you and your money allowed to enter the country? And so on.

Anyone found guilty of a betting-related offence or who has been banned by a sporting body will also struggle to pass and, in 2018, a section was added to exclude agents from owning clubs or serving as directors.

As most of us love a good crime drama, the most interesting element of the test is probably the section on criminal convictions and the test’s intention is to be both broad and specific.

So, if you have committed “any offence involving any act which could reasonably be considered to be dishonest”, regardless of the actual sentence imposed, you are at risk of being rejected.

But the OADT is not — as the Premier League’s former executive chairman Richard Scudamore was so fond of saying — a “cut of your jib test”. His point was always that if you are allowed to own a British company, you are probably allowed to own an English football club. The Premier League is not running a country club.

What do United fans want?

Two-thirds of Manchester United fans want to see Ratcliffe take charge, according to a recent fan survey published by The Athletic.

Of those linked with buying United — including Twitter chief Elon Musk and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — Ratcliffe claimed 66.2 per cent of the vote, with Qatar investors second on 16.9 per cent.

One respondent wrote: “It has to be Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the lesser of all evils.”

Pressed on whether a takeover from a sovereign wealth fund would be palatable, only half of fans who responded said no, with 27 per cent saying they would be open to that, and 23 responding ‘maybe’.

What was overwhelmingly clear in our survey was desire for the Glazers to go. Only 1.8 per cent of those surveyed said they either did not mind the current owners staying on, or thought minority investment would be acceptable.

Do the fans get any say in the outcome?

Will the glazers definitely sell.

Of course not. Only if they get enough money to make it worth their while. And there are plenty of people in the sports business industry who feel that this process might end with the Glazers staying put.

(Top image: Sean Reilly)

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About: Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Arabic: جاسم بن حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني; born 25 August 1978) is the former heir apparent of Qatar. He is the third son of the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the first child of the Emir with his second wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned. He abdicated his position as Crown Prince in 2003, in favour of his younger brother Tamim, citing being uninterested in becoming Emir.