Qatari emir reportedly buying 6 Greek islands

The Emir of Qatar has reportedly struck a cut-price deal to buy six Greek islands. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has paid €8.5m ($11m) for six idyllic isles in the Ionian sea. After his purchase of the uninhabited Ionian islet of Oxia, 1,236 acres in size and near to the island of Ithaca, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has agreed to buy another five privately owned neighbouring islets in the Echinades group, in the Ionian Sea. The islands, caught the royal's eye when he moored his yacht in the turquoise waters off Ithaca four years ago, reports said. The purchase comes just weeks after it was announced that Qatar plans to invest up to €1bn ($1.34bn) in small and medium-sized Greek companies.