Escaping High Taxes and Affordable Fuels: Families Prefer Dubai Over Starmer's Britain Due to Attractive Offerings

In the vibrant city of Dubai, a metro system whizzes commuters around for just 5 dirhams (£1) – a fraction of the cost compared to London's transportation. This Middle Eastern metropolis, known for its towering skyscrapers and extravagant architecture, has become a popular destination for ordinary Britons, lured by the promise of lower income taxes and more affordable living costs.

Ed Jennings, a 34-year-old lawyer, is one such individual who has moved his law firm's operations from London to Dubai. The city's less punitive business taxes have provided a welcome respite for his business, allowing him to keep more of his hard-earned cash.

Many expats, like Joe Makinson, a 25-year-old entrepreneur, and his girlfriend Sophia Mohammed, have moved to Dubai to start businesses in various industries, including aviation. They have found the city to offer a safer, more affluent lifestyle compared to Britain.

The cost of living in Dubai is generally cheaper than in London, with household bills totaling £180 per month in Dubai compared to £450 per month in the British capital. The average expat in Dubai earns approximately 25,000 UAE dirham a month, which equates to about £85,000 before tax in Britain.

The city's real estate market is diverse, with the average cost of a two-bed apartment along the shoreline being £700,000, but prices can be as low as £200,000 further inland. Rent for a two-bed townhouse on the Jumeirah Golf Estate is approximately 20,000 dirham a month, which equates to about £4,000.

Dubai's government has introduced schemes to make property ownership more accessible, offering preferential prices and cheaper mortgage rates for first-time property buyers. This initiative may encourage more expats to buy properties earlier rather than renting.

The UAE offers four main types of visas for Britons moving to the UAE: work sponsor visa, green visa, golden visa, and digital nomad visa. However, specific details about the budget allocated for the introduction of the Digital Nomad Visa in Dubai are not publicly available.

Education is another attractive factor for families moving to Dubai. The cost of sending a child to private school in Dubai is much cheaper than in the UK, with parents like Ed Jennings and his partner planning to pay £15,000 per year for their daughter's education.

With its business-friendly environment, lower taxes, and affordable living costs, it's no wonder that more than 240,000 UK expats are estimated to be living in Dubai, with the number surging by 420% in the five years to 2024. As Dubai aims to double its population by 2040, it continues to attract Britons seeking a better quality of life and exciting business opportunities.

However, it's important to note that Dubai is not pedestrian-friendly, and most people rely on a car to get around. Despite this, the city's allure remains strong, with many Britons, including entrepreneurs, software engineers, estate agents, marketing professionals, and British-educated teachers, choosing to call Dubai their home.

Escaping High Taxes and Affordable Fuels: Families Prefer Dubai Over Starmer's Britain Due to Attractive Offerings