British intelligence and military sources have warned that a luxury hotel in Cyprus could potentially be used to gather information on a nearby RAF base. The concerns were first raised by The Telegraph, which reported that the 16-storey City of Dreams Mediterranean resort could provide a vantage point overlooking RAF Akrotiri, one of Britain's most strategically important military sites.
Hotel location and capabilities
The hotel sits just 4.5 miles from the base and is much taller than many surrounding buildings. According to the sources, someone positioned on one of the hotel's upper floors could potentially monitor aircraft taking off and landing using just binoculars. The highest floor is home to two presidential suites, which sources say offer the clearest views towards the military installation.
RAF Akrotiri is particularly sensitive because it has been used in operations connected to the conflict with Iran and is home to advanced military aircraft, including F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters.
Security concerns and ownership
Sources also told The Telegraph there is "no world" in which Beijing would not want to "seek to exploit" the hotel's location. The resort is owned by Canadian-Chinese billionaire Lawrence Ho, who has been named "Asia's best CEO" seven times.
The concerns come amid growing scrutiny of potential Chinese intelligence activity around Western military facilities. Experts have previously highlighted cases in the US where Chinese-linked companies have acquired land close to military bases.
Recent incidents and responses
There is also a recent history of security concerns around RAF Akrotiri. In March, Iranian drones targeted the military complex, while a British-Azerbaijani national was arrested last month on suspicion of spying on the base and passing information to Iran.
However, there is no suggestion that the hotel is involved in espionage. A spokesperson for City of Dreams and Ho said the resort exists solely for tourism and described claims that it could be used for spying as "entirely unfounded".
The Ministry of Defence declined to discuss specific security arrangements but said RAF Akrotiri is protected by "robust, multi-layered security measures". The department added that these measures are kept under constant review, but said it would not comment on their details for operational security reasons.
