Qatari investors are poised to own up to 10 per cent of Barclays after the bank called on groups from the Middle East and Asia to support its long-awaited £4.5bn share issue.

The Qatar Investment Authority and Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, the chairman of Qatar Holding, are financing half of the offering. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the Japanese bank, and other investors are also involved.