Abu Dhabi United Group
Encyclopedia
The Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (ADUG) is a United Arab Emirates
(UAE) private equity
company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
, member of the Abu Dhabi
Royal Family and Minister of Presidential Affairs for the UAE. It was initially thought that Abu Dhabi United Group is a part of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
, a sovereign wealth fund owned by Abu Dhabi
. But Abu Dhabi United Group had denied connection to the government of Abu Dhabi
.
The Group was founded in the summer of 2008, as Sheikh Mansour looked to takeover Manchester City Football Club from Thaksin Shinawatra. The Abu Dhabi United Group was set up in order to convince the football authorities that were 'fit and proper'.
The Group bought Manchester City Football Club
, negotiating the deal on 1 September 2008. The deal was struck late on Sunday night between the club’s former owner Thaksin Shinawatra
, former Prime Minister of Thailand
, and ADUG. The US-educated Sulaiman Al-Fahim
was the public face of ADUG during the initial phase of the takeover and is often described as the "Donald Trump
of Abu Dhabi". The takeover was completed on 23 September 2008. He was later relieved of public duties which was given to Khaldoon Al Mubarak
.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
(UAE) private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a United Arab Emirati politician and member of ruling family of Abu Dhabi . He is the half brother of the current President of UAE, Emir of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan...
, member of the Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi (emirate)
Abu Dhabi, officially the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, , is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates . It is the capital of UAE and is the largest emirate by area , and second-largest by population , accounting for approximately 86% of the total land area of the UAE...
Royal Family and Minister of Presidential Affairs for the UAE. It was initially thought that Abu Dhabi United Group is a part of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is a sovereign wealth fund owned by Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates founded for the purpose of investing funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi....
, a sovereign wealth fund owned by Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
. But Abu Dhabi United Group had denied connection to the government of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
.
The Group was founded in the summer of 2008, as Sheikh Mansour looked to takeover Manchester City Football Club from Thaksin Shinawatra. The Abu Dhabi United Group was set up in order to convince the football authorities that were 'fit and proper'.
The Group bought Manchester City Football Club
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, negotiating the deal on 1 September 2008. The deal was struck late on Sunday night between the club’s former owner Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
, former Prime Minister of Thailand
Prime Minister of Thailand
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....
, and ADUG. The US-educated Sulaiman Al-Fahim
Sulaiman Al-Fahim
Sulaiman Abdul Kareem Mohammad Al-Fahim is the ex-CEO of the Abu Dhabi based Hydra Properties real estate development company, and president of the Arab Union for Real Estate Development...
was the public face of ADUG during the initial phase of the takeover and is often described as the "Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
of Abu Dhabi". The takeover was completed on 23 September 2008. He was later relieved of public duties which was given to Khaldoon Al Mubarak
Khaldoon Al Mubarak
H.E. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak is an Emirati businessman.Educated in the United States, he entered a career in construction and real estate, becoming CEO of the Mubadala Development Company...
.