Qatar's Western grip - Fortune Finance

Qatar may not have the gleaming exterior of Dubai or the great oil wealth of Saudi Arabia, but the tiny Arab nation is quietly making a name for itself in the realms of international finance and politics. This year, in particular, seems to be Qatar's coming out party, now that its energy infrastructure is up and running, pumping billions of dollars into the state's coffers.

But is the sparsely populated country a truly secure bet for Wall Street and Washington? Or will Qatar face the same financial and political temblors rocking its Arab neighbors?

Taking a stroll through London, it is tough not to run into something touched by the Qataris. The Emirate's sovereign wealth fund, The Qatari Investment Authority, along with its various offshoots that make up what is known as "Qatar Inc.," has snapped up property all over the city, from the famed Harrods Department store in the posh west to nearly a third of the Canary Wharf financial district in the east. It owns several other building littered around the city and is the majority owner of "The Shard," which, upon completion, will be London's tallest office building.