Limassol resort raises UK intelligence concerns over RAF Akrotiri

Intelligence concerns

Concerns have been raised in UK defence and intelligence circles that the City of Dreams Mediterranean in Limassol might be used by overseas operatives to watch RAF Akrotiri, the Telegraph reports in an exclusive. The property is 16 storeys high, under Chinese ownership, and borders the British Sovereign Base Area at two locations, with its elevation providing a line of sight toward parts of the installation.

Potential observation scenarios described to the newspaper include using ordinary binoculars from upper levels to follow aircraft during take-off and landing and monitor how personnel move around the site. Among the details that could be gleaned, the report says, are patterns in aircraft and troop movements, the pace of military sorties, base operating routines, perimeter patrols, reactions to drone incidents, and flights that fall outside public tracking platforms.

Why Akrotiri matters

RAF Akrotiri plays a central part in UK military activity across the Middle East, which makes its security especially sensitive. The base has hosted F-35 stealth fighters at different periods, and American U-2 Dragon Lady surveillance aircraft have also deployed there. British sources told the Telegraph that counter-intelligence measures are in place, though their nature was not described for operational reasons.

Ownership and caveats

City of Dreams Mediterranean belongs to Melco Resorts & Entertainment, whose chairman, Chinese-Canadian billionaire Lawrence Ho, sits on the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The Telegraph notes that this political link and the building's location have fed concern among some military officials. At the same time, the report found no proof that Ho, Melco or the hotel had done anything improper, and journalists who visited the site detected nothing suspicious.

Responses

A spokesperson for the resort firmly rejected the claims, saying it operates solely as a commercial venue for tourism, entertainment and business gatherings. “Any suggestion that our facilities serve any other purpose is entirely baseless and rejected in the strongest possible terms,” the spokesperson told the newspaper. The company added that the project was developed and runs within the Republic of Cyprus's licensing, planning and regulatory requirements, under the supervision of the relevant authorities.

The UK Ministry of Defence stated that the safety of its personnel, bases and national interests is handled with the highest seriousness. RAF Akrotiri, it said, is shielded by “robust and multi-layered security measures” that are kept under ongoing review.