Three MPs Face Scrutiny Over Dubai Property Promotion Linked to Banned Tycoons
Three British MPs have been revealed to have promoted a luxury property development in Dubai, despite the tycoons behind the project being banned from entering the United Kingdom following a major investigation into bribery and corruption. Labour MPs Afzal Khan and Naz Shah, alongside pro-Gaza independent MP Ayoub Khan, all attended events aimed at encouraging British-Pakistani investors to purchase homes in a new desert city called Waada, delivering supportive messages that have raised serious questions about their judgement.
The Controversial Developers Behind Waada
The company promising to develop the sprawling desert site is run by mega-wealthy father and son Malik Riaz Hussain and Ali Riaz Malik, who are wanted in their native Pakistan and prohibited from entering Britain following a comprehensive 'dirty money' probe. In 2019, the pair were subject to the largest asset recovery settlement ever recorded by the National Crime Agency, agreeing to forfeit £140 million in cash plus a Knightsbridge home valued at £50 million.
This substantial settlement was reached after the agency – often described as Britain's FBI – utilized its asset-freezing powers during an investigation by Pakistani authorities into alleged corruption involving their gated housing firm Bahria Town. While there are no specific parliamentary rules preventing MPs from promoting property investments, the backbenchers now face mounting questions about their judgement in conferring legitimacy and providing valuable publicity to a project backed by businessmen who are banned from the UK due to corruption allegations.
MPs' Involvement in Promotional Events
The trio of MPs all attended promotional events organized by the developers in June 2025, as revealed by the Sunday Times. First, Afzal Khan, Labour MP for Rusholme and a member of Parliament's Joint Human Rights Committee, was listed as a 'distinguished guest' at an event in Stockport where he gave interviews praising the proposed city's strategic location. Khan was subsequently dismissed as UK trade envoy to Turkey after the Daily Mail exposed how he had caused a diplomatic spat with an unauthorized trip to northern Cyprus.
Second, Ayoub Khan, independent MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, was designated 'guest of honour' at a roadshow in the West Midlands. He recorded a video highlighting that Waada means 'promise' in Urdu, hailing the developers' 'track record' in construction and noting they were 'looking at making affordable properties in Dubai.'
Finally, Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, was an 'esteemed guest' at a gala event in Mayfair. She offered substantial praise for the firm's 'successful reputation in Pakistan,' adding: 'If they can deliver in Dubai, many people, not just Pakistanis, will be looking towards it.'
The Ambitious Dubai Development
The proposed mini-city in the Dubai desert would eventually house approximately 40,000 people in a mixture of flats, villas, mansions, and a five-star hotel surrounded by meticulously landscaped gardens and artificial lagoons. According to promotional materials, the development would feature a scale model of the Eiffel Tower as its centerpiece, creating an extravagant desert oasis for wealthy investors.
As they continue to battle Pakistani authorities, Mr Hussain – once ranked as Pakistan's fourth richest man – and his son are now actively seeking investors for this ambitious development in south Dubai's desert region. Their attendance at these UK events was particularly notable since they are unable to travel to Britain due to what a senior judge described in 2021 as this country's 'commitment to combat corruption and financial crime.' Instead, the father and son delivered their promotional messages via video recordings.
MPs' Defenses and Responses
For his part, Afzal Khan insists he did not endorse or promote the project, stating: 'I attended the event briefly after being invited by a local business person, not the organisers. I did not address the room, endorse the company or promote the project. I have not invested in the project, and neither I nor my family have received any gifts or inducements.'
Ms Shah's spokesman told the Sunday Times: 'Naz gets invited to attend many events by her constituents that relate to their Pakistani heritage and this was one of those events.'
Ayoub Khan stated he was unaware of 'any historical impropriety' involving the tycoons and had requested his name be removed from promotional material. He explained: 'At the time I attended the event I had no prior knowledge of any historical impropriety associated with the project's owners, nor did I know who they were. I did not encourage constituents to personally invest in the initiative and I certainly did not exercise my status to any such end.'
The attendance of all three MPs was subsequently highlighted on Bahria Town's website and social media platforms, providing the controversial developers with valuable political endorsement despite their banned status in the UK. The MPs' participation has sparked broader concerns about the ethical boundaries of parliamentary promotion for international property ventures linked to individuals facing serious corruption allegations.
