NO fewer than 300 Nigerian politicians, police officers, civil servants and other politically exposed persons (PEPs) have invested up to $2 billion (about N3 trillion) in Dubai’s property market over the past two decades, Economy Post can exclusively report.
Investigations show that wives and children of politicians, judges and senior civil servants are heavily represented among the buyers, collectively holding more than 2,000 properties in prime locations across Dubai – the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and capital of the Emirate of Dubai.
The findings are part of ‘Dubai Unlocked’, a six-month investigation into the UAE’s fast-growing but opaque real-estate market, led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in collaboration with more than 70 media organisations worldwide. Economy Post was the only Nigerian media organisation involved in the project.
Economy Post details properties linked to about 300 individuals, who are mostly politically exposed, civil servants, public servants, security officers, and other Nigerians who have served in critical positions in the past.
As of 2020, about 800 properties worth roughly $400 million were traced to Nigerian PEPs in Dubai. Many more have acquired new properties since then. New findings by Economy Post now put the figure at $2 billion across over 2,000 properties, reflecting a sharp rise over the past few years.
READ ALSO: More Nigerian politicians acquire choice properties in Dubai – UAE sources
According to the Dubai Land Department, Nigerians are the second-largest foreign buyers of property in Dubai after Indians, owning over 1,824 real-estate assets. Analysis indicates that PEPs, top security officials, civil servants and their relatives account for over 80 percent of all Dubai properties linked to Nigerians.
To verify identities, Economy Post carried out extensive social-media checks and matched dates of birth contained in the records.
“Buying properties in Dubai is normal for anybody,” said a university law lecturer, Mr Odinakachukwu Okeke.
“It is not all politicians who stole public funds to acquire Dubai properties. However, there is so much money moving around the Dubai property market that is tied to corruption,” he added.
The data shows that prominent Nigerian politicians mostly own flats, villas, studios, hotel rooms, and apartments. These properties are concentrated in upscale districts such as Burj Khalifa, Marsa Dubai, Al Merkadh, Palm Jumeirah, Wadi Al Safa, Madinat Al Mataar, and Nad Al Shiba First, among others.
Names of Nigerian property owners
Former military Head of State, Mr Abdulsalami Abubakar, is linked to an apartment in Marsa Dubai, according to the investigations. The property is valued at $142,500.
Former Vice President, Mr Atiku Abubakar, is associated with a three-bedroom apartment valued at about $1.23 million at Palm Tower. His daughter, Hadiza, is associated with a one-bedroom flat in Trade Centre Second worth $104,135, and another two-bedroom apartment in Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid valued at $289,305, which is reportedly used for commercial purposes.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Mr Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), is linked to a property valued at $85,846 in Al Hebiah Third.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, owns a four-bedroom apartment in the same area, valued at $193,084.
Eight properties worth $2.28 million are linked to Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed,. The assets are located in Burj Khalifa, Al Yelayiss, Al Barsha South Fourth and Town Square Safi 2.
A villa valued at $1.13 million is linked to late Mr Patrick Ifeanyi Uba, while eight properties are traced to his wife, Ms Uchenna Uba. One of the villas in Wadi Al Safa 7 alone is valued at about $1.13 million, with two others priced at roughly $294,516 each.
READ ALSO: Former NEMA boss sacked for corruption owns $591,000 property in Dubai
Seven properties worth $1.48 million are associated with former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa, while another asset in Palm Jumeirah valued at $750,112 belongs to his wife.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Ahmed Makarfi, owns a Burj Khalifa property valued at $822,016.
Late former police chief, Mr Tafa Balogun, is linked to five properties across Dubai, including Marsa Dubai, now worth over $1 million combined. A property was also traced to former assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu.
Three properties are linked to former PDP chairman, Mr Ahmadu Adah Ali, while one valued at $422,887 belongs to his daughter, Ms Khadijah Nneamaka Ali.
Eleven properties are associated with former Borno State Governor and Senator, Mr Maina Ma’aji Lawan, while a property valued at $1.16 million in Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid belongs to Ms Ashe Ahmadu Muazu, wife of a former PDP chairman.
Other names linked to Dubai properties include former finance minister, Ms Nenadi Esther Usman; former deputy Senate President, Mr Ike Ekweremadu; former Abia State Governor, Mr Orji Uzor Kalu; former Aviation Minister, Mr Osita Chidoka; former PDP spokesman, Mr Olisa Metuh; and former Petroleum Minister, Mr Dan Etete, among others.
A former Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Muhammed Sani-Sidi, who was sacked by former President Muhammadu Buhari for corruption, has a property in Dubai valued at $590,807.
Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), late Mr Tafa Balogun, owns eight properties at Marsa Dubai and Lake City, estimated at $1.4 million.
A Nigerian couple, Mr Bamise Ajetunmobi and his wife, Elizabeth, who orchestrated a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 27 investors out of N18.88 billion own luxury properties in Marina Vista Tower 2 and Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
It must be emphasised that listing these names does not amount to an indictment, as there is no evidence that the properties were acquired with stolen or public funds
Dubai property rising
Dubai recorded 59,228 residential property transactions in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, valued at $46.5 billion. This marked the highest quarterly figure ever reported. Total real estate hit AED559.4 billion, already surpassing 2024’s record.
Residential real estate market sales reached $147 billion as of the end of October 2025, according to the UAE media. Dubai properties are attractive to Nigerians owing to their high rental returns, better security in the country, and high investor confidence. However, investigators criticise the market for being a haven for hiding stolen wealth from developing and underdeveloped nations across the world, particularly by political leaders and public servants.
Dubai’s real estate market hit 180,900 transactions worthover $142 billion in 2024, representing a 36 percent increase in sales volume and a 27 percent rise in value compared to 2023.
