UAE-linked firms own 101 hectares of Greater Manchester land in 2026
Emirati-linked companies owned 101 hectares of land in Greater Manchester in 2026, up from 73 hectares a decade earlier. The findings have brought the city’s reliance on overseas investment under scrutiny amid the Manchester City financial rules scandal and questions about links between local and national leaders and the club’s Abu Dhabi owners.
The number of land titles held by UAE-linked companies rose from 51 in 2016 to 168 in 2026. Sheikh Mansour’s companies owned at least 34 titles, including the Etihad Stadium, and accounted for about two-thirds of Emirati-owned land in the region. Foreign investment in Greater Manchester grew by 25% between 2015 and 2024, while UAE investment made up only 0.3% of the UK’s total foreign investment stock at the end of 2024.
In short
- Emirati-linked land ownership in Greater Manchester rose 39% in a decade.
- Sheikh Mansour’s companies own about two-thirds of that land.
- UAE investment is a small share of foreign investment in the UK.
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The case for
Overseas investment can bring capital, jobs and development to Greater Manchester, and the UAE-linked holdings remain a small part of the UK’s overall foreign investment stock. A rise in land ownership alone does not establish improper influence; scrutiny should focus on transparent evidence of conflicts, compliance with financial rules and the public benefits of investment.
The case against
The increase in UAE-linked land titles and the concentration of many holdings in companies associated with Sheikh Mansour justify closer scrutiny, particularly given the questions surrounding Manchester City’s financial rules and political connections. Even a modest share of national investment can matter locally, so residents may reasonably seek clearer disclosure of ownership and safeguards against conflicts of interest.
Explained simply
Manchester City is owned by companies linked to Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. The club’s Etihad Stadium is among the properties held by his companies in Greater Manchester.
Overseas investors can own land through companies registered in the UK or abroad. The reported figures count land titles linked to UAE companies, while broader foreign investment in the region comes from many countries and sectors.
Manchester City has faced scrutiny over whether it followed football’s financial rules. That has prompted questions about the relationship between the club’s owners and public leaders, and about how overseas investment fits into the region’s economy.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Emirati-linked firms’ ownership of Manchester land ‘up 39%’ in ten years”.