Companies linked to the United Arab Emirates now own almost 40% more land in Greater Manchester than they did a decade ago. The rise has drawn fresh attention to the city’s ties with Abu Dhabi after Manchester City faced a major financial rules scandal.
A new analysis found that the number of land titles held by UAE-linked companies rose from 51 in 2016 to 168 in 2026. The total area owned by these companies grew from 73 hectares to 101 hectares. That is an increase of 39% over ten years.
The land covers about 250 acres across Greater Manchester. It includes major sites linked to football, healthcare and other parts of the local economy.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the owner of Manchester City, holds at least 34 land titles through one of his companies. These include the Etihad Stadium and properties in Ancoats and New Islington.
By 2026, companies linked to Mansour owned about two-thirds of all land held by Emirati-linked firms in Greater Manchester. However, the wider rise in land ownership has mainly come from other UAE-based companies.
The findings have added to questions about the role of foreign money in Manchester’s growth and the influence of wealthy overseas investors on local decisions.
Manchester City Scandal Raises Questions
The new figures emerged as Manchester City’s owners faced growing scrutiny over the club’s financial conduct. In September 2026, the club was found guilty of nine years of breaches of financial rules under its current ownership, according to the reported findings.
The case has also put pressure on Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham. He faced criticism after describing Manchester City’s owners as a “huge partner in the building of modern Manchester”. He also said he would be “really concerned” if they sold the club.
The issue has raised wider questions about the relationship between local leaders and major investors.
The prime minister has also faced calls to disclose all meetings with Manchester City’s owners. He first said he had held one significant meeting with Abu Dhabi executives. Five other meetings later came to light, prompting further demands for clarity.
The debate now extends beyond football. It has become a wider discussion about the role of international capital in shaping the city and its public life.
Researcher Warns of Economic Risks
Professor Jonathan Silver of the University of Sheffield has studied Manchester’s economic links with Abu Dhabi. He warned that the growing purchase of land and property by Emirati investors raised serious concerns about the city’s economic model.
Silver said Manchester had become too reliant on attracting money from overseas, even when this could create wider risks. He argued that the issue was not only about football but also about the city’s growing ties with an authoritarian state in the Gulf.
He also raised concerns about the UAE’s human rights record and its alleged role in the conflict in Sudan.
Silver said Manchester’s leaders often celebrate the city’s democratic history. Yet, he argued, their efforts to attract investment could conflict with those values when economic growth becomes the main goal.
His comments highlight a key question facing local leaders: how can Manchester attract investment while protecting public interests and democratic standards?
Foreign Investment Continues to Grow
Foreign investment has played a major role in Greater Manchester’s recent economic development. The total stock of overseas investment in the city region grew by 25% between 2015 and 2024.
Official figures show that the north-west of England received the highest net foreign investment of any UK region outside London in 2024.
Greater Manchester attracted almost £2 billion in net overseas investment that year. This placed it among the leading city regions for foreign investment, behind London, Edinburgh and south-east Scotland, and Cardiff.
However, the United Arab Emirates remains only one part of this wider flow of international money.
Published figures from the Office for National Statistics do not provide a full breakdown of UAE investment in Greater Manchester. Other data suggest that Asian countries outside Japan accounted for less than 5% of the city region’s total foreign investment stock at the end of 2024.
A further 10% came from UK offshore islands. Some Emirati money may have passed through these locations, although the figures do not confirm how much.
At the end of 2024, direct investment from the UAE accounted for just 0.3% of the total foreign investment stock in the UK.
UAE Property Holdings Expand
Despite its small share of total UK investment, UAE investment has been growing. Property experts say demand from international buyers has increased in recent years. Investors from the UAE, the wider Middle East and Europe are seen as fast-growing groups in the UK property market.
The latest figures show that the expansion of Emirati-linked land ownership in Greater Manchester is not driven by Manchester City’s owner alone.
One notable example is the Abu Dhabi government, which owns 15 land titles in the region. Most were acquired through its purchase of Circle Health Group, a major healthcare provider.
These holdings include Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Highfield Hospital in Rochdale and Beaumont Hospital in Bolton.
The growing portfolio shows how UAE-linked investment reaches beyond sport and into essential local services. As scrutiny increases, Greater Manchester’s leaders face pressure to explain how they balance economic growth with transparency, accountability and the long-term interests of residents.
