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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Carmen Aguilar García, Michael Goodier, Josh Halliday and Philip McMahon

Emirati-linked firms’ ownership of Manchester land ‘up 39%’ in 10 years

Buses, cars, cyclists, pedestrians and trains jostle in Manchester City centre
The total stock of all foreign investment in Greater Manchester increased by 25% between 2015 and 2024. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Emirati-linked companies own almost 40% more land in Greater Manchester than a decade ago, Guardian analysis reveals, as the city’s economic ties face scrutiny after Manchester City’s financial rules scandal.

The number of land titles in Greater Manchester owned by United Arab Emirates-linked companies 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).

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