Led by the emirate's royal family, Qatari interests are positioning themselves on Paris's Left Bank, which is set to become the French capital's third luxury district after Avenue Montaigne and Faubourg St Honoré. Their Monopoly moves are facilitated by the close and long-standing ties between Qatar and Rachida Dati, the mayor of the arrondissement and prospective Paris mayor.
Since the start of this month, Sotheby's International Realty has been marketing 16 ultra-luxury serviced apartments under the Maybourne Residence brand at the former Îlot Saint-Germain (in Paris's 7th arrondisement), long occupied by the Ministry of Defence, on the Rue de l'Université.


