One of the most powerful Gulf investors has warned that European attempts to force greater transparency on sovereign wealth funds are making the continent unattractive for investment.

Sultan bin Sulayem, head of Dubai World, said such moves by regulators were discriminatory and would deter him from investing. In an interview with the FT, the head of Dubai’s powerful government-backed conglomerate said Europe was now exerting more pressure on SWFs than the US, which has openly resisted Arab investment in assets deemed “strategic”.