Emirati-linked firms increase Manchester land ownership 39% in a decade

Emirati-linked companies have expanded their land holdings in Greater Manchester by nearly 40% over the past ten years, according to a Guardian analysis of Land Registry and Companies House data. The number of land titles held by United Arab Emirates-connected entities rose from 51 in 2016 to 168 in 2026, with the total area increasing from 73 to 101 hectares (180 to 250 acres).

The growth coincides with heightened scrutiny of Manchester's economic ties to Abu Dhabi after Manchester City Football Club was found guilty of a nine-year breach of Premier League financial rules under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Mansour's companies account for at least 34 of the Emirati-held titles, including Etihad Stadium and properties in Ancoats and New Islington, representing two-thirds of the total Emirati-owned land area.

Mayor Andy Burnham and the prime minister have faced questions about their relationships with the club's owners. Burnham initially described the owners as a "huge partner in the building of modern Manchester," while the prime minister was urged to disclose all meetings with Abu Dhabi executives after initially acknowledging only one.

Professor Jonathan Silver of the University of Sheffield warned that the growing Emirati land acquisition raises "major concerns about the fragility of the 'Manchester model' and its reliance on attracting flows of international finance, whatever the cost." He argued the city-region is aligning its economy with an authoritarian Gulf state accused of human rights abuses and war crimes in Sudan, contradicting Manchester's radical democratic history.

Despite the sharp increase, Emirati investment remains a small portion of overall foreign capital in the region. Total foreign investment in Greater Manchester grew 25% between 2015 and 2024, with the north-west attracting the highest net foreign investment outside London in 2024 — nearly £2 billion. UAE direct investment accounted for just 0.3% of all UK foreign investment at the end of 2024, though property experts note demand from the UAE and wider Middle East is among the fastest-growing.

Much of the recent land acquisition comes from UAE entities other than Mansour's. The Abu Dhabi government holds 15 titles, mostly acquired through its 2024 takeover of Circle Health Group, including hospitals in Cheadle, Rochdale and Bolton. Other investors include Dr Ali Saeed Al Ameri, who owns £1.3 million in apartments via a British Virgin Islands company, and property developer Mohammed Ahmad Aldallal, who owns at least £10 million in buildings across Bolton, Oldham and Manchester. Aldallal demolished Oldham's historic Grand Theatre, where the Beatles once performed, to build an 11-storey apartment block.

Public sector spending with UAE-backed firms totalled £84.4 million between 2016 and 2026, with 85% going to Circle Health Group through NHS contracts. Manchester City Council spent £6.3 million on UAE-linked companies, over half directed to Manchester City FC. Council leader Garry Bridges defended the investment, stating the city is "in better shape now" and regeneration of areas like Ancoats has been positive.

The Guardian's analysis covers 2016-2026 using Land Registry and Companies House data; beneficial ownership information before April 2016 is unavailable. The study includes companies based in the UAE or with beneficial owners who are Emirati nationals or the Abu Dhabi government, but excludes land held directly by individuals, which is not publicly recorded.

Source: The Guardian Business.