# GMCA backed broadband buyer part-owned by Manchester City chairman’s UAE fund

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/burnhams-office-backed-broadband-deal-that-would-benefit-uae-fund-headed-by-chairman-of-scandal-hit-manchester-city/
- Published: 2026-11-01T18:17:59+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T18:32:48+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16256857/Burnhams-office-backed-broadband-deal-benefit-fund.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Art, Business, Companies, Culture, Entertainment, Music, UK, World

## Key points

- Greater Manchester backed CityFibre in the Substantial takeover contest.
- Mubadala, led by Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, partly owns CityFibre.
- Nexfibre disputes the regulator’s interim preference for its rival.

## Summary

Greater Manchester Combined Authority backed CityFibre as the preferred buyer of broadband provider Substantial, a decision that could benefit a company partly owned by a UAE sovereign wealth fund. The revelation has renewed scrutiny of Andy Burnham’s relationship with Manchester City’s UAE owners, although officials say he was not personally involved in the decision.

CityFibre is partly owned by Mubadala, whose chief executive is Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak; the fund has invested at least £800 million in the company. Rival bidder Nexfibre, jointly owned by Liberty Global and Telefónica, has submitted a £2 billion offer and disputes the competition regulator’s interim preference for CityFibre. The GMCA says its position was based on value for residents and maintaining competition, while CityFibre points to £900 million in new commitments and growing customer numbers.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.