Planning a move from the UK to Dubai or the wider UAE
Dubai and the wider United Arab Emirates attract professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, investors and families looking to establish themselves outside the UK.
But moving to the UAE involves more than choosing a property and obtaining a residence visa.
The right approach may depend on why you are relocating, how you intend to earn an income, whether you will establish or operate a business, whether your family is moving with you and what financial or property interests you will retain in the UK.
Knightsbridge helps clients consider these issues as part of one coordinated international relocation plan.
Our role is to establish what you are trying to achieve, identify the areas that require attention and coordinate the appropriate immigration, tax, property and professional advice around the move.
Why are you moving to the UAE?
There is no single route for somebody relocating from the UK to Dubai. Your position may be very different depending on whether you are:
- accepting employment in the UAE;
- relocating with an international employer;
- establishing a UAE business;
- working independently;
- investing in the UAE;
- purchasing property;
- moving with your family;
- planning retirement;
- managing businesses in several countries; or
- seeking longer-term residence.
The starting point should therefore be the objective rather than the visa. Once the purpose of the move is clear, the appropriate residence, tax, business and property considerations can be assessed around it.
UAE residence and visa options
The UAE operates a number of residence and visa categories. Depending on the circumstances, these can include routes connected with:
- employment;
- family sponsorship;
- investment;
- business ownership;
- self-employment;
- remote work;
- retirement;
- study; and
- longer-term residence programmes.
The UAE also operates Golden Visa and Green Visa routes for certain qualifying individuals. The appropriate route will depend on your circumstances, intended activity in the UAE and longer-term plans.
Obtaining residence should be considered in the context of what you actually intend to do once you arrive.
Employment in Dubai and the UAE
For many people, the move begins with an employment opportunity. Where an individual is relocating to work for a UAE employer, the employment and residence process will usually be closely connected.
It may also be necessary to consider:
- the employment package;
- housing allowances;
- healthcare;
- family sponsorship;
- schooling allowances;
- pension arrangements;
- UK employment interests;
- tax residence; and
- the timing of departure from the UK.
For senior employees and executives, the wider financial position may be just as important as the immigration process.
Establishing a business in the UAE
Dubai and the wider UAE are also popular destinations for founders and business owners. A relocation may involve establishing:
- a mainland company;
- a free zone company;
- a professional or consultancy structure;
- a branch of an overseas business; or
- another commercial presence in the UAE.
The appropriate structure depends on the business activity, ownership requirements, market, staffing and longer-term objectives. Setting up a company and moving personally to the UAE should not necessarily be treated as separate decisions.
Business ownership can interact with residence, tax, banking and investment arrangements.
Moving your existing UK business
Some clients are not starting a new business. They already own or manage a UK company and are considering operating internationally while living in the UAE. This can create additional questions around:
- continuing UK company activity;
- management and control;
- directorships;
- salary and dividends;
- employees;
- UK tax;
- UAE corporate tax;
- establishing a UAE entity; and
- transactions between UK and UAE businesses.
Moving yourself does not automatically move your company. Where substantial business interests are involved, both the personal and corporate position should be considered before the relocation takes place.
Tax when moving from the UK to Dubai
The UAE’s tax environment is one of the reasons many individuals and businesses consider relocating there. However, moving to Dubai does not automatically mean that your UK tax obligations end on the day you leave.
Your UK position can depend on factors including:
- the date you leave;
- days spent in the UK;
- available accommodation;
- employment;
- family connections;
- property;
- business interests; and
- other ties retained with the UK.
The UAE also has its own rules concerning tax residence and business activity. The key question is therefore not simply whether Dubai has lower taxation. It is how the UK and UAE positions interact in your particular circumstances.
Tax planning should ideally take place before significant transactions or changes are made.
Buying property in Dubai
Property is often a major part of a Dubai relocation. Foreign nationals can acquire property in areas designated for foreign ownership, and Dubai operates a formal land-registration system for property transactions.
You may be considering:
- buying a home;
- purchasing an investment property;
- buying off-plan;
- renting before purchasing;
- acquiring property connected with a residence strategy; or
- retaining UK property while owning property in Dubai.
The right approach depends on both your relocation and financial objectives.
Before purchasing, it may be necessary to consider:
- ownership eligibility;
- the development and location;
- registration;
- financing;
- service charges;
- completion arrangements;
- rental potential;
- local legal advice; and
- UK and UAE tax implications.
Property should not be treated as separate from the wider move.
Property and UAE residency
Certain residence routes may be connected with property ownership or investment. However, buying a property does not mean that every purchaser automatically qualifies for every form of UAE residence.
The relevant requirements should be confirmed before property is purchased primarily for immigration purposes.
This is particularly important where the intended purchase is being justified on the basis that it will provide longer-term residence rights for the purchaser or their family.
Moving to Dubai with your family
For families, the relocation needs to work for more than the principal applicant. Questions may arise around:
- residence visas for a spouse or partner;
- dependant children;
- employment rights;
- schools;
- childcare;
- healthcare;
- housing;
- travel back to the UK; and
- the timing of the move.
The UAE provides family residence options in qualifying circumstances, but the practical arrangements can be just as important as the immigration permission itself.
For families with school-age children, education and location can become central to the relocation plan.
Schools and family life
Dubai has a substantial international-school sector, with different curricula, fee levels and admissions processes. Families may need to consider:
- British curriculum schools;
- International Baccalaureate;
- American curriculum schools;
- school fees;
- waiting lists;
- term dates;
- travel times; and
- proximity to the family home.
Housing and schooling decisions are therefore often closely connected. These issues should ideally be considered early, particularly where the move is planned around the beginning of an academic year.
Healthcare and insurance
Healthcare arrangements are another important part of the move. Depending on the emirate, employment and immigration status, medical insurance requirements can differ. Employers may provide healthcare for the employee while dependants require separate arrangements.
Clients should consider healthcare alongside:
- visa applications;
- employment packages;
- family needs;
- ongoing medical treatment; and
- insurance.
Banking and moving money to the UAE
Relocating may require new banking arrangements. This can include:
- opening UAE bank accounts;
- retaining UK banking;
- receiving salary;
- transferring savings;
- funding a property purchase;
- business banking;
- international payments; and
- demonstrating source of funds.
Banks may request substantial documentation where large transfers or property purchases are involved. Planning the banking position early can help prevent it becoming a bottleneck later in the relocation.
Investments and wealth
Individuals moving from the UK may already hold:
- ISAs;
- pensions;
- investment accounts;
- company shares;
- investment property;
- private businesses; and
- other assets.
Changing residence can affect the tax treatment and availability of some financial products. It may also create new investment opportunities in the UAE.
Where regulated investment or pension advice is required, this should be provided by an appropriately authorised professional. Knightsbridge can help identify the issues and coordinate the relevant advisers around the wider relocation.
Leaving your UK position properly organised
A Dubai relocation should not focus exclusively on the UAE. Before leaving the UK, you may also need to consider:
- your UK home;
- rental property;
- tax residence;
- employment;
- business interests;
- investments;
- pensions;
- banking;
- insurance; and
- existing UK immigration status where relevant.
For many clients, the UK departure and UAE arrival need to be planned together.
How Knightsbridge helps
We approach a move to Dubai or the UAE as a wider relocation rather than simply a visa application.
We can help you:
Assess
Understand why you are moving and which residence options may fit your circumstances.
Plan
Identify the immigration, tax, property, family and business issues involved.
Prepare
Coordinate the residence and documentation process within the appropriate professional framework.
Coordinate
Work alongside UAE-based professionals where local legal, tax, property or other specialist advice is required.
Review
Consider how the UAE arrangements interact with the position you are leaving behind in the UK.
Before you move to Dubai
Dubai can offer very different opportunities depending on whether you are relocating for employment, business, investment, property or family reasons. The important question is not simply whether you can obtain UAE residence.
It is whether the proposed structure supports what you are trying to achieve over the next several years.
If you are considering moving from the UK to Dubai or elsewhere in the UAE, tell us what you are trying to achieve, who will be moving with you and what UK business, property or financial interests you intend to retain.
We can help identify the areas that require attention and build the next steps around your proposed relocation.
