By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-04 05:51:00 | Updated at 2026-10-04 06:49:30
1 hour ago
Man City owner Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi firm was given the "red carpet treatment" for building in Manchester, a leading property developer has claimed.
The Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) - which owns the club - was handed "first offer" over property developments across the city under what's been labelled a "sweetheart deal" with the city's Labour council.
Under a 10-year contract signed in 2015, ADUG was given preferential access to land ring-fenced for development by the council.
The deal, as revealed by The Mill, was struck to "promote residential development" by "contributing towards infrastructure provision and land assembly".
But it meant the council had to give "right of first refusal" to ADUG on land it wanted to sell around Ancoats and New Islington.
It also meant any agreed development on the land had to be carried out by Manchester Life, a joint venture between ADUG and the council.
Andy Burnham praised the massive regeneration project last week, which has included thousands of homes and 30,000 square feet of commercial space.
He was the Mayor of Greater Manchester during eight of the development deal's 10 years - but not the leader of the council.
Last night, a council source hailed how the joint venture "was able to offer a scale of investment that delivered a £1.25billion programme of regeneration".
And a former senior council official told The Mill he stood by the value of the work he did in the city.
But local developers said the deal hindered their own investments in the area.
Man City owner Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi firm was given the 'red carpet treatment' for property development in Manchester
One major property developer in the North West told The Sunday Times: "This is a sweetheart deal between Abu Dhabi and Manchester City Council.
"They are given the red carpet treatment where other British-based developers are not."
The developer added that it "did hold some of us back".
Just after Man City was found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, Mr Burnham rushed to the defence of the club's owners.
"I would be really concerned to lose them," the Prime Minister lamented.
City has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with its appeal set to be considered by a separate Appeal Board under Premier League rules
"I do actually thank the City Football Group and the wider ownership for the money that they didn’t just put into the Etihad [Stadium] and the campus around it but also into the city," he added.
The club's owners were found guilty of "sham" agreements where ADUG cash was funnelled to the club via artificially inflated sponsorships from firms like Etihad Airways.
City has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with its appeal set to be considered by a separate Appeal Board under Premier League rules.
The club claims it has proof that Etihad's money came directly from the Abu Dhabi Government, not ADUG.
Today, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the council both say they do not have any active partnerships with ADUG.
Downing Street later clarified Mr Burnham's remarks to stress that he believed "the initial judgment is serious and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules".
Andy Burnham is under heavy pressure to come clean on his meetings with Manchester City's owners
PA
