Purchase of Cyprus hotel by Chinese firm raises alarm in nearby British military base
September 7, 2026
by intelNews
A CHINESE-OWNED LUXURY hotel in Cyprus has sparked concerns among British intelligence and military officials that it could be used to spy on Royal Air Force (RAF) Akrotiri, one of the United Kingdom’s most strategically important overseas military bases. RAF Akrotiri is located in the Western Sovereign Base Area, which constitutes a British Overseas Territory on the island nation of Cyprus.
The hotel resort, known as the City of Dreams, is a 15-acre, 16-story complex located approximately 4.5 miles north of RAF Akrotiri. Military and intelligence officials have expressed concerns over its location, as it affords a panoramic view of one of the UK’s most critical overseas military bases. In addition to a host of British military aircraft, the base currently hosts both F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters and Lockheed U-2 (nicknamed “Dragon Lady”) reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force. With the resort standing significantly taller than surrounding buildings and dominating the local skyline, British and American officials have noted the site’s potential to provide its owners with the ability to monitor aircraft movement, military personnel and other activity in and around the base. One source said that “there was no world in which the Chinese state would not seek to exploit the hotel’s location”.
The City of Dreams is owned by Melco Resorts and Entertainment, which is led by Chinese-Canadian billionaire Lawrence Ho. Ho reportedly sits on China’s National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is described as a “patriotic United Front” organization, populated by wealthy, influential, and well-connected individuals. Despite the claims, there has been no official evidence of espionage or wrongdoing by Ho, Melco, or the hotel. The City of Dreams has firmly denied the allegations, describing them as “entirely unfounded”. City of Dreams executives insist that the resort operates solely as a tourism and business destination.
This unease follows increased attention on Akrotiri’s security following the Iranian loitering munition that struck the base on March 1, 2026. It also echoes a 2024 case where the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly raised the alarm over a Chinese-owned hotel overlooking a Swiss military base that housed F-35 aircraft. In a separate case in July 2026, a US senator requested a security review of a Chinese solar manufacturer’s purchase of a facility near a military base in Ohio, calling the manufacturer a potential Beijing “shell company”.
Security sources reportedly told the British press that the RAF base would implement counter-intelligence measures, but noted their limitations in being able to foil espionage operations from the City of Dreams site.
► Author: Molly Jones | Date: 07 September 2026 | Permalink
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Purchase of Cyprus hotel by Chinese firm raises alarm in nearby British military base
September 7, 2026 by intelNews Leave a comment
The hotel resort, known as the City of Dreams, is a 15-acre, 16-story complex located approximately 4.5 miles north of RAF Akrotiri. Military and intelligence officials have expressed concerns over its location, as it affords a panoramic view of one of the UK’s most critical overseas military bases. In addition to a host of British military aircraft, the base currently hosts both F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters and Lockheed U-2 (nicknamed “Dragon Lady”) reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force. With the resort standing significantly taller than surrounding buildings and dominating the local skyline, British and American officials have noted the site’s potential to provide its owners with the ability to monitor aircraft movement, military personnel and other activity in and around the base. One source said that “there was no world in which the Chinese state would not seek to exploit the hotel’s location”.
The City of Dreams is owned by Melco Resorts and Entertainment, which is led by Chinese-Canadian billionaire Lawrence Ho. Ho reportedly sits on China’s National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is described as a “patriotic United Front” organization, populated by wealthy, influential, and well-connected individuals. Despite the claims, there has been no official evidence of espionage or wrongdoing by Ho, Melco, or the hotel. The City of Dreams has firmly denied the allegations, describing them as “entirely unfounded”. City of Dreams executives insist that the resort operates solely as a tourism and business destination.
This unease follows increased attention on Akrotiri’s security following the Iranian loitering munition that struck the base on March 1, 2026. It also echoes a 2024 case where the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly raised the alarm over a Chinese-owned hotel overlooking a Swiss military base that housed F-35 aircraft. In a separate case in July 2026, a US senator requested a security review of a Chinese solar manufacturer’s purchase of a facility near a military base in Ohio, calling the manufacturer a potential Beijing “shell company”.
Security sources reportedly told the British press that the RAF base would implement counter-intelligence measures, but noted their limitations in being able to foil espionage operations from the City of Dreams site.
► Author: Molly Jones | Date: 07 September 2026 | Permalink
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Filed under Expert news and commentary on intelligence, espionage, spies and spying Tagged with Akrotiri (Cyprus), City of Dreams (Cyprus), Cyprus, espionage, Lawrence Ho, News, Royal Air Force, UK