Guardian analysis: Emirati-linked land ownership in Greater Manchester up 39% in a decade
A Guardian analysis of Land Registry and Companies House data found UAE-linked firms own 39% more land in Greater Manchester than in 2016, as PM Andy Burnham faces scrutiny over meetings with Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners. The Daily Express used the figure in an opinion podcast piece attacking Burnham.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1A Guardian analysis found that land titles in Greater Manchester owned by United Arab Emirates-linked companies rose from 51 in 2016 to 168 in 2026, equivalent to a 39% rise in total area owned, from 73 to 101 hectares (180 to 250 acres). The GuardianLC “increased from 51 in 2016 to 168 in 2026, equivalent to a 39% rise in the total area owned in a decade, from 73 to 101 hectares (180 to 250 acres)” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1At least 34 titles are owned through a company of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Manchester City's owner, including the Etihad Stadium and properties in Ancoats and New Islington; two-thirds of Emirati-owned land in 2026 belonged to one of Mansour's companies. The GuardianLC “at least 34 land titles currently owned by Manchester City FC’s owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan through one of his companies”“two-thirds of the Emirati-owned land in Greater Manchester as of 2026 was owned by one of Mansour’s companies” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1The Guardian said the growth was mostly driven by UAE-based companies other than Mansour's, including 15 titles held by the Abu Dhabi government, mostly via its purchase of Circle Health Group, plus individual investors such as property developer Mohammed Ahmad Aldallal. The GuardianLC “mostly driven by UAE-based companies other than those owned by Mansour. That includes 15 titles owned by the Abu Dhabi government” Read at The Guardian ↗
Left · 1The analysis combines Land Registry and Companies House data for 2016 to 2026; it excludes land held directly by individuals, because that information is not public, and beneficial-ownership data does not exist before April 2016. The GuardianLC “There is no information on beneficial owners of companies before April 2016.”“The analysis does not include land owned directly by individuals as this information is not publicly available.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1The Guardian also reported that £84.4m was spent between 2016 and 2026 by Greater Manchester public bodies on firms ultimately owned in the UAE, 85% of it NHS spending on Circle Health Group, and that Manchester city council spent £6.3m on UAE-backed companies, over half of it to Manchester City. The GuardianLC “£84.4m was spent on firms ultimately owned in the UAE between 2016 and 2026. Of that 85% was NHS spending on Circle Health Group”“Manchester city council spent £6.3m on UAE-backed companies, more than half of which went to Manchester City Football Club.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1The Guardian put the figures in context: UAE investment is small, at 0.3% of all UK foreign investment stock at the end of 2024, and Greater Manchester's total foreign investment stock rose 25% between 2015 and 2024. The GuardianLC “the total stock of foreign direct investment from the United Arab Emirates accounted for just 0.3% of all foreign investments in the UK.”“The total stock of all foreign investment in Greater Manchester increased by 25% between 2015 and 2024.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Mixed · 2The findings come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham, formerly Greater Manchester mayor, faces scrutiny over the Manchester City financial rules case: Burnham described City's owners as a "huge partner in the building of modern Manchester" and said Burnham would be "really concerned" if they sold the club. The GuardianLC “a “huge partner in the building of modern Manchester”, and said that he would be “really concerned” if they sold the club.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Daily ExpressR “He described them as a “huge partner in the building of modern Manchester”” Read at Daily Express ↗ Mixed · 2Burnham initially said there had been one "significant" meeting with the Abu Dhabi executives, but five other meetings have since emerged; the Guardian says one, weeks before a £55m loan was approved, came to light only after disappearing from public records. The Express put the total at at least seven. The GuardianLC “Barely a year later, Burnham signed off a £55m loan to Jersey-registered property firms owned by Sheikh Mansour” Read at The Guardian ↗ The GuardianLC “only for five other meetings to come to light” Read at The Guardian ↗ Daily ExpressR “the PM actually met City bigwigs at least seven times as Greater Manchester mayor” Read at Daily Express ↗ Left · 1Burnham said Burnham had asked the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) for a "manual trawl of everything" in the name of "full transparency". GMCA said its loans fund was open to all developers meeting the criteria and the loans were repaid in full, though councillors on its scrutiny committee are now examining the decisions. The GuardianLC “Burnham said last week he had asked GMCA to conduct a “manual trawl of everything, as I want everything possible to be out there”.”“GMCA said its loans fund was available to all developers who met the lending criteria and that the loans had been repaid in full.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Left · 1The Guardian's longer feature traces the presence to a 2013 UK government request that Manchester council prepare investment proposals for the UAE, producing the £1bn Manchester Life deal; it reports that 2,039 homes were delivered by Manchester Life, a third of the 6,000 promised, and none of the area's affordable homes came from it. The GuardianLC “only 2,039 homes have been delivered by Manchester Life – a third of the total promised”“only 8% of these 4,878 properties fell into that category – and none were provided by Manchester Life.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1Council leader Garry Bridges called it "ludicrous" to suggest the regeneration story had been anything but positive, while University of Sheffield researcher Prof Jonathan Silver said the land buy-up raised "major concerns about the fragility of the ‘Manchester model’". The GuardianLC “To suggest that the story has been anything but positive from a regeneration point of view is ludicrous.”“major concerns about the fragility of the ‘Manchester model’” Read at The Guardian ↗ Right · 1Manchester City were found by an independent commission to have used "sham" contracts to inject £830million of inflated income over nine seasons from 2009 to 2018, according to the Express, which adds that the club denies wrongdoing and has appealed. Daily ExpressR “had used “sham” contracts to inject £830million of inflated income into the club over nine seasons between 2009 and 2018”“The Citizens deny any wrongdoing and have launched an appeal against the verdict.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Right · 1The Daily Express, in a piece on its podcast, quoted associate editor James Walker calling Burnham's account of the meetings "b*******", saying the affair was "starting to stink a little bit of a cover-up" and that it "could be over for Burnham" if it snowballs. Daily ExpressR “starting to stink a little bit of a cover-up”“I think it could be over for Burnham if this snowballs into something bigger.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Investigative, data-led reporting by the Guardian on how Abu Dhabi money reshaped Manchester, tying the land figures to benefits and costs for the city and to Burnham's record.
- Emphasis
- Land-title data, Mansour's portfolio, public contracts, housing shortfalls and deprivation near the new developments, plus context that UAE investment is small in UK terms and Emirati money is one part of foreign investment.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives limited space to the Premier League ruling details; includes council and GMCA defences alongside critics.
- Charged language
- “cheating scandal”“authoritarian state”
- For example
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“Emirati-linked companies own almost 40% more land in Greater Manchester than a decade ago, Guardian analysis reveals” — The Guardian
“Emirati money is only one part of the foreign investment that has helped drive Manchester’s recent economic success.” — The Guardian
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- An opinion podcast write-up that uses the Guardian's land figure to attack Burnham's credibility and predict political damage.
- Emphasis
- Burnham's "one significant meeting" claim, the seven meetings, cover-up suspicion and a possible end to Burnham's premiership.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the Guardian's context on UAE investment's small share, the data's limits, or the council and GMCA responses; the land figure is attributed vaguely to "reports".
- Charged language
- “He is finished!”“rich oil sheikhs”“starting to stink a little bit of a cover-up”“bombshell prediction”
- For example
-
“how much of Manchester’s land has been sold off to these rich oil sheikhs in the Middle East” — Daily Express
“In a bombshell prediction, he added” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Emirati-linked companies own nearly 40% more land in Greater Manchester than a decade ago, per the Guardian analysis.
- Burnham said there was one 'significant' meeting with Manchester City's Abu Dhabi bosses, but further meetings have emerged.
- Burnham called City's owners a 'huge partner in the building of modern Manchester'.
- Manchester City were found to have breached financial rules.
Where accounts differ
-
Number of Burnham's meetings with City's owners
- Left
- Guardian: one 'significant' meeting initially claimed, five others since emerged.
- Right
- Express: at least seven meetings.
-
Scale of Manchester City's rule breaches
- Left
- Guardian: a nine-year breach of financial rules, 'unprecedented'.
- Right
- Express: more than 100 Premier League rule breaches; City deny wrongdoing and are appealing.
Andy Burnham person
Burnham said full transparency was wanted and asked GMCA for a manual trawl of records; earlier called City's owners a huge partner in building modern Manchester. The Express and Guardian say Burnham's account of one significant meeting is undercut by further meetings.
““There’s no question about that – full transparency.”” — The Guardian
“questioned Mr Burnham’s transparency on the issue” — Daily Express
Manchester City organisation
Manchester City deny wrongdoing and have appealed the ruling that they breached financial rules, per the Express.
“The Citizens deny any wrongdoing and have launched an appeal against the verdict.” — Daily Express
Left2 articles
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‘That’s the way the city works’: how the UAE changed the face of Andy Burnham’s Manchester
Critical Long-form feature tracing Abu Dhabi's influence from 2013 deals to deprivation and resentment in Ancoats, with awkward questions for Burnham.
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Emirati-linked firms’ ownership of Manchester land ‘up 39%’ in ten years
Neutral Data-driven news report presenting the 39% rise alongside caveats and responses from the council leader and an academic.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Daily ExpressR · · Opinion
Andy Burnham under fire over Manchester City meetings: 'He is finished!'
Alarmist Opinion podcast piece predicting Burnham may be finished over the City meetings and land sales to Gulf owners.
- 25 Oct 06:00 First The GuardianLC ‘That’s the way the city works’: how the UAE changed the face of Andy Burnham’s Manchester
- 25 Oct 06:00 First The GuardianLC Emirati-linked firms’ ownership of Manchester land ‘up 39%’ in ten years
- 27 Oct 19:23 +61h 22m Daily ExpressR Andy Burnham under fire over Manchester City meetings: 'He is finished!' Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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