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UAE’s ruling royal family benefits from more than €71m in EU farming subsidies
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UAE’s ruling royal family benefits from more than €71m in EU farming subsidies

The Guardian · May 7, 2026, 4:00 AM

Key takeaways

  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE, is at the helm of the Al Nahyan family.
  • Prefer the Guardian on GoogleThe United Arab Emirates’ ruling royal family is benefiting from tens of millions in EU subsidies to grow crops destined for the Gulf, it can be revealed.
  • A cross-border investigation by DeSmog and shared with the Guardian found subsidiaries controlled by the Al Nahyans collected more than €71m (£61m) in six years for farmland it controls in Romania, Italy and Spain.

Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE, is at the helm of the Al Nahyan family. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE, is at the helm of the Al Nahyan family. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images United Arab Emirates UAE’s ruling royal family benefits from more than €71m in EU farming subsidies Al Nahyans’ control over farmland in Europe has meant they receive proportion of payments to farms

Prefer the Guardian on GoogleThe United Arab Emirates’ ruling royal family is benefiting from tens of millions in EU subsidies to grow crops destined for the Gulf, it can be revealed.

A cross-border investigation by DeSmog and shared with the Guardian found subsidiaries controlled by the Al Nahyans collected more than €71m (£61m) in six years for farmland it controls in Romania, Italy and Spain.

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