Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast.

In the second and final episode of our exploration into Abu Dhabi's takeover of Manchester City, Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper uncover the strategic, political, and historical forces behind one of the most transformative moves in modern football.

Incorporating expert commentary from Dr. Chris Davison, author of Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond, this episode explores how a state-led investment in a football club became a powerful tool of international diplomacy. We trace the roots of Abu Dhabi’s global ambitions back to the oil boom of the 1970s and '80s, the legacy of Sheikh Zayed’s leadership, and the shifting political landscape following his death in 2004.

We also examine the rise of Sheikh Mansour, the tightening grip of autocracy, and the human rights questions that shadow this high-stakes project. From geopolitics in the Arab world to influence across Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

00:00 Introduction 01:30 The Foundation of UAE and Its Growth

02:57 Sheikh Zayed's Vision and Leadership

05:24 The Role of Women and Modernisation

08:37 The Al Nahyan Family Dynamics

12:47 The Manchester City Takeover

15:39 The Impact and Strategy Behind the Takeover

22:41 The Strategic Importance of Qatar and Abu Dhabi

23:29 Human Rights Concerns in Abu Dhabi

28:52 Worker Rights and Personal Accounts

31:38 The Yemeni War and Foreign Policy

34:59 Manchester City's Aggressive Strategy

36:19 Comparing Strategies: Abu Dhabi vs. Qatar

44:23 The Future of Manchester City

46:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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