UAE's ruling al-Nayhan family receives tens of millions in EU farming subsidies

UAE's ruling al-Nayhan family receives tens of millions in EU farming subsidies Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 05/08/2026 - 11:22 The world's second-richest family has acquired vast swathes of European farmland and is taking EU subsidies, DeSmog reveals Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed AI Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, attends a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, 14 April 2026 (Reuters/Haruna Furuhashi) Off The United Arab Emirates ’ ruling al-Nahyan family is benefiting from tens of millions in European Union subsidies to grow crops destined for the Gulf, according to a new investigation by DeSmog. The independent investigative journalism organisation found that subsidiaries controlled by Abu Dhabi's royal family collected more than €71m ($84) over six years for farmland it controls in Romania, Italy and Spain. The Al Nahyan family is the second richest in the world, with an estimated wealth of more than $320bn, mostly derived from the Emirates’ vast oil and gas reserves.