Emirati-linked firms’ ownership of Manchester land ‘up 39%’ in ten years
Economic ties face scrutiny after scandal over Manchester City’s financial rules ‘That’s the way the city works’: how the UAE changed the face of Andy Burnham’s Manchester Emirati-linked companies own almost 40% more land in Greater Manchester than a decade ago, Guardian analysis reveals, as the city’s economic ties face scrutiny after Manchester City’s financial rules scandal. The number of land…
Emirati-owned land in Greater Manchester increased by 39% over a decade, according to Guardian analysis. The number of land titles owned by UAE-linked companies grew from 51 in 2016 to 168 in 2026, representing a 39% rise in total area owned, from 73 to 101 hectares. Among these land titles, at least 34 are currently owned by Manchester City FC's owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, through one of his companies.
This includes the Etihad Stadium and properties in Ancoats and New Islington. Two-thirds of the Emirati-owned land in Greater Manchester is owned by one of Mansour's companies. Andy Burnham, who initially sympathized with City's owners, has faced scrutiny over Manchester City FC's financial rules scandal. The Guardian's analysis reveals that while UAE investments have contributed to Manchester's economic success, they are only one part of the foreign investment driving the city's growth.
Critics argue that the growing purchase of land and property by Emiratis raises concerns about the fragility of Manchester's economic model and its reliance on attracting international finance.
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