British Prime Minister David Cameron has urged Qatar to plough more of its vast oil and gas wealth into infrastructure projects across Britain during an official visit from the Gulf state's emir.

Cameron asked Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to consider further funding to help Britain's push to develop cities in the north of the country and connect them to London using a high speed rail line, a statement released by his office said.

Qatar, one of the world's richest countries, has already invested heavily in British firms and properties.

Among its highest profile investments are London's tallest building, the Shard, which was funded by the Qatari royal family, and the upmarket Harrods department store owned by sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority.

"The Prime Minister ... encouraged the Emir to consider more opportunities across the country, particularly the government's plan to establish a Northern Powerhouse by connecting our great Northern cities and the development of high speed rail," the statement said.

Earlier this week the British government said it was backing the development of a fast rail link between the English cities of Leeds and Manchester, in addition to an existing £43 billion ($68.9 billion) plan to develop high speed links to London.-Reuters