Inside Manchester City: David Conn's special report

Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chairman of Manchester City, poses for a portrait at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi Photograph: Philip Cheung

The skyline of Abu Dhabi has been completely transformed over the past three decades following the discovery of oil in the desert Photograph: Reuters

Here's how it looked in October 1975 Photograph: Winfield Parks/National Geographic/Getty Images

The Yas Hotel at the Yas Marina formula one circuit is one of many ambitious architectural projects that have been bankrolled by wealthy Arabs Photograph: Philip Cheung/Philip Cheung

Construction is under way on a branch of the Louvre Museum, seen here during planning as a dome-shaped model Photograph: Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images

There is a stark disparity between rich and poor in Abu Dhabi. Here, poor people are fed outside the Grand Mosque as part of Ramadan. Meazdi Hassan (left) and Mohammad Mussafah are seen sharing a light-hearted moment as the sun sets behind them Photograph: Philip Cheung/Philip Cheung

Khaldoon meets Manchester City's executive chairman Garry Cook, left, and manager Mark Hughes, centre, at the club's Carrington training ground Photograph: Kevin Cummins/Manchester City FC via EMPICS/Manchester City FC

Khaldoon wearing traditional robes for another portrait Photograph: Benjamin Lowy/Benjamin Lowy