Erling Haaland and his father Alf-Inge Haaland have become notable figures in the launch of a major £3 billion property development project in Abu Dhabi that is closely linked to Manchester City Football Club. The project, known as the Manchester City Yas Residences, features luxury canal-front homes and was unveiled in a high-profile event attended by club manager Pep Guardiola and thousands of guests at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, a venue also used for the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The Haalands appeared prominently in the promotional campaign for the development, with Erling Haaland recording a video expressing his enthusiasm about acquiring a home within the complex. Both he and his father, a former professional footballer for Leeds United and Manchester City, are reported to have received keys to residences, including a five-bedroom villa for Haaland Jr. However, neither Manchester City nor the developers, Abu Dhabi-based Ohana Development, have confirmed whether the properties were purchased or transferred under other arrangements.
This collaboration forms part of a broader commercial strategy linking Manchester City with real estate ventures in the United Arab Emirates. The club officially partnered with Ohana Development earlier this year, with statements highlighting the integration of the Manchester City brand throughout the project. City executives Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Ferran Soriano were involved in promotional activities for the development, further underscoring the close ties between the football club and the property project.
Details regarding the financial structure of the partnership remain undisclosed. While it is unknown if the arrangement involves direct revenue sharing, royalties, or licensing fees for City Football Group, the use of the club’s brand in promoting luxury residences suggests significant commercial benefit. The project includes amenities tailored to fans, such as a Manchester City-inspired sports complex, rooftop football pitches, tactical analysis rooms, a social club, and matchday terraces. Developers indicated that the first phase of the residences sold out rapidly, generating around £1.2 billion in sales.
Manchester City is not the first Premier League club to enter the real estate sector in the Gulf region. Chelsea Football Club partnered with Dubai-based DAMAC Properties to develop residential towers branded with the club’s insignia, marking a comparable instance of football branding extending into property markets.
The Manchester City deal differs in branding and partnership approach, with Ohana Development designated as the club’s “first-of-its-kind” branded residential destination partner in Abu Dhabi. The club’s affiliated Emirati partners include Aldar, an official real estate partner partly owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, of which Al Mubarak is chairman.
The promotional event also spotlighted Pep Guardiola’s new role as the project’s official brand ambassador, although the terms and financial scope of this engagement have not been disclosed. Erling Haaland’s public association with the scheme coincides with a period in which Manchester City is appealing an independent commission’s decision that found the club guilty of financial irregularities related to sponsorship revenues totaling £830 million.
With completion of the Yas Residences anticipated in 2029, the project signals continued integration of global football brands with luxury property markets in the Gulf, further blending sports, commerce, and real estate development. Haaland himself maintains residences in other locations, including Cheshire, Norway, and Marbella, aligning with the profile of a global sports figure.