Land owned by companies linked to the United Arab Emirates in Greater Manchester has increased by 39% in area over the past decade, according to an investigation published by the Guardian on Sunday (25 October).
The newspaper's analysis of Land Registry and Companies House records found that the area held by UAE-linked companies grew from 73 hectares in 2016 to 101 hectares in 2026. The number of identified land titles rose from 51 to 168. The 39% figure refers to land area, not the number of titles or the proportion of all land in Greater Manchester.
What the investigation found
The Guardian reported that companies associated with Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan held at least 34 titles, including the Etihad Stadium and property in Ancoats and New Islington. Its investigation also identified holdings linked to other Emirati investors and the Abu Dhabi government.
The newspaper said its ownership analysis covered corporate land titles and did not include land held directly by individuals. Its findings should therefore not be interpreted as a complete measure of all UAE-linked property ownership.
Questions over public lending and development
The findings come amid scrutiny of the Manchester Life regeneration partnership and loans made through a Greater Manchester Combined Authority housing fund. Separate reporting by the BBC and Guardian says councillors are examining the transparency of loans to property developers, including three companies ultimately controlled by Sheikh Mansour.
The Guardian previously reported that £55 million in loans was approved for those companies in 2017, during Andy Burnham's tenure as Greater Manchester mayor. Greater Manchester Combined Authority said the loans were repaid in full and that lending decisions were taken publicly under criteria developed with external financial experts. An inquiry into decision-making does not establish wrongdoing by Burnham or the companies involved.
Competing assessments of regeneration
Researchers have raised concerns about the terms of public-land disposals, transparency and the shortage of affordable homes in parts of the Manchester Life development. Manchester City Council has defended the partnership, arguing that it helped regenerate previously neglected neighbourhoods and delivered economic benefits. Those competing positions remain important context for the debate.
The Guardian also reported that UAE-linked investment represented a relatively small component of wider foreign investment in Britain: UAE direct investment accounted for approximately 0.3% of the UK's foreign investment stock in 2024. Increased ownership in Manchester should not be confused with dominance of the region's overall economy.