UK Expats Surge 420% in Dubai Seeking Tax Relief, Safer Living

Dubai is rapidly becoming a prime destination for both ordinary Britons and ultra-wealthy Westerners who are drawn by its zero income tax policy, affordable living costs, and affluent lifestyle. Over 240,000 UK expatriates have relocated there, a 420 percent increase since 2019, motivated largely by the UK’s rising taxes and high housing prices. Many expats, including entrepreneurs like Joe Makinson who moved to start an aviation recruitment firm, find Dubai’s business environment more appealing due to lower tax burdens and economic opportunities. The city also plans to become cashless by 2026, aiming for 90 percent of transactions to be digital, which is expected to boost economic growth and streamline payments for residents and businesses alike. Among the affluent, Dubai attracts record numbers of millionaires, with reports citing nearly 9,800 millionaires relocating in 2025 alone, enticed by the city’s political stability, luxury lifestyle, and normalized wealth culture. This combination of tax advantages, safety, and lifestyle offerings makes Dubai an increasingly attractive alternative to cities in the UK and other parts of the world.