Report based on data that provides detailed overview of hundreds of thousands of properties in Dubai
A comprehensive investigative journalism initiative, “Dubai Unlocked,” has shed light on the ownership of prime properties in Dubai by the global elite. Among the list are political figures, individuals under global sanctions, suspected money launderers, and criminals. Notably, Pakistani nationals are also among those identified, with their collective property holdings estimated at approximately $11 billion.
The project utilized extensive data, offering insights into hundreds of thousands of Dubai properties, detailing ownership or usage patterns primarily between 2020 and 2022. Properties registered under corporate entities or situated in commercial zones were excluded from the analysis.
The information was acquired by the Centre for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS), a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. Subsequently, it was disseminated to Norwegian financial outlet E24 and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Together, they spearheaded a six-month-long investigative endeavor involving journalists from 74 media outlets spanning 58 countries. This collaborative effort unearthed numerous convicted criminals, fugitives, and political figures who have recently possessed real estate in Dubai. Among the media partners were The News and Dawn from Pakistan.
Highlighted among the Pakistani individuals implicated in the Property Leaks are President Asif Ali Zardari’s three children, Hussain Nawaz Sharif, the spouse of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Sharjeel Memon, along with family members, Senator Faisal Vawda, Farah Gogi, Sher Afzal Marwat, four MNAs, and half a dozen MPAs from the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies. Additionally, the list from Pakistan includes the late Gen Pervez Musharraf, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, more than a dozen retired generals, a police chief, an ambassador, and a scientist. These individuals either directly owned properties or held them through their spouses and children.
