From Dover To Dubai: The UK vs UAE (A Comparison)

The UK in 2025 is a mess; crippling taxation, stagflation, rising living costs, dwindling opportunities and a pervasive sense of despair. 

Many of Britain’s best and brightest have already decided enough is enough. They are leaving the UK in droves in search of better jobs and lower living costs.

Joining them are Brexit-weary business owners looking to regain their competitiveness, and wealthy investors, chased off by the current government’s tax policies.

All are united in their belief that they can find better opportunities overseas, and many of them are choosing to move to the UAE. 

Here’s why. 

Hope & Glory

In our last article on the UK brain drain, we explored the rise of reverse migration and detailed the various factors causing it. 

These include stagflation, dwindling opportunities, rising living costs, punishing taxation and a revolving door at Downing Street – six prime ministers in under a decade.

In short, Britain’s future looks bleak, and the best and brightest have long since realised this. 

That’s why young people are leaving, that’s why skilled workers are leaving, and, thanks to Brexit, their ranks are not being replenished. 

As if that isn’t bad enough, these same factors are contributing to capital flight, which started ten years ago with Brexit and is now accelerating under the current Labour government. 

In the past three years, there has been an 80% change in the rate of net migration, with fewer people coming in and more moving out. 

Entire generations of Britain’s best and brightest are leaving the UK behind for greener pastures, more than a quarter of a million in 2024 alone.

Among them are Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors who, increasingly, are choosing the UAE as their new home. 

Once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. They’re not going to want to return, not when they’ve finally been allowed to taste success.

Cashing Out

Savvy investors always know when to cash out because, while the numbers always matter, they’ve also learned to listen to their gut.

This applies to other areas of the economy too. Whenever companies start to struggle the first to always go are the most talented and tenacious. 

These are the ones who have a plan, the ones who see the writing on the wall early but know they have the skills and leverage to find a new, better position elsewhere. 

Ironically, although they’re always the first to leave, they’re exactly the kind of people the company needs to retain if it’s ever to have a chance of reversing its fortunes. 

Instead, the company gets lumbered with mediocre leftovers, the workers who call in sick when actually they’re hungover, the ones who are always late back from lunch, the ones who waste their days with idle chit-chat and are resigned to doing the absolute bare minimum while others pick up the slack.

Until one day they come to work and are completely shocked to discover the company has gone bankrupt – because they haven’t been paying attention. 

Now imagine instead of a company, it’s an entire nation. That’s Britain. The government don’t seem to be all that bothered about it, however, because they don’t want you. They want the lazy leftovers to help keep them in power. Success and tenacity unsettles and undermines them.

It wasn’t always like this, though… 

He Who Dares, Wins

Once upon a time, the UK was a beacon, with immigrants arriving from all over the world looking for a better life. For them, it was the white cliffs of Dover, not the Statue of Liberty, which signified opportunity and prosperity. 

Back then, Britain was booming, its industries robust, its finances soaring, an enviable hub of innovation where fortunes could be made, though hard work and perseverance. 

Sure, there were tough times too, but you gritted your teeth and soldiered on because “he who dares, wins.” And who knows what tomorrow might bring? Today’s street vendors could be tomorrow’s tycoons. 

Think Richard Branson, selling records on Oxford Street before building a global empire.

How? Pure hustle.

Or Clive Sinclair, a school dropout turned electronics pioneer who went into business in his twenties, popularised the pocket calculator and spearheaded the UK’s microcomputer boom despite no formal training. And it all began with a £25 loan from one of his mates. 

Or how about his biggest rival, Alan Sugar, an east-end London lad who built a £1.2 billion business out of £100, half of which he spent on a battered old van. 

And how did they manage it? By – get this – working hard.

Sugar was determined to make it so he worked harder than those around him, building relationships with suppliers, learning his trade, memorising every tiny detail right down to the tiniest component, all so he could deliver the best product for the lowest cost. 

That was Britain. Moreover, that was Britain in the bad times, as recessions loomed large, but the nation’s indomitable spirit loomed larger. 

Alas, belief in the notion that, if you put your head down and work hard, you’ll get ahead has all but collapsed in 2025. 

British business success was once built upon tenacity and innovation. Even in a country obsessed with class, it remained a place where a council estate lad with a strong cockney accent could become a tech billionaire and a member of the House of Lords.

But that was then. 

The current cost of living crisis precludes any notion of upward mobility, and Labour have just compounded it in their latest budget, with an income tax threshold freeze which will punish workers for being successful for six years at least. 

Adjusted for inflation, Alan Sugar’s business setup costs were £1,543. Good luck even finding a place to rent in London for that amount these days. 

On the other hand, having seen photos of Dubai’s elegant skyline, with its vast, pearly skyscrapers, you might be forgiven for thinking it’s an expensive place to live in.

Sure, if luxury is what you’re after it can be as expensive as you want it to be. The surprise, however, is that, on the whole, the UAE is more affordable than London, and better value too.

Think of that the next time you’re rattling along on a packed Tube, gagging on the fumes of nine million commuters.

UK vs UAE: A Comparison

When comparing the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, the two nations could not be more different. 

Apart from using the same type of wall socket and voltage as the UK (so your British appliances will work there just fine) the only similarity really is that they both have the word “united” in their name. Though in the UK’s case, that’s stretching the definition of unity considerably. 

The UK in 2025 does not feel all that united, whereas in the UAE, there remains a sense of common purpose and values. 

The biggest difference between the pair is that, although the king is head of state, the UK is very much a democracy, while the UAE is not. 

Yet, paradoxically, you have more agency in the UAE than you do in Britain. If you’re British and reading this thinking, “no, you’re having me on”, then try the following:

Look yourself in the mirror and say out loud and with confidence, “my vote makes a difference” while trying to keep a straight face. 

True, some of their rules will take some getting used to, but just under a quarter million of your fellow Britons have already adapted, and are currently enjoying better living standards with plenty of warm sunshine and clean, safe streets.

The UAE’s crime rate is one of the lowest in the world, and for one simple reason: they don’t tolerate any mucking about. 

On the flip side, though, unlike Kier Starmer, they’re not trying to police your family’s sugar intake because their government has more important things to do than play babysitter. So it just leaves you alone and trusts you to crack on with it. 

Obviously, there’s a reason why the UAE is so rich, and why it doesn’t need to charge high taxes like the UK does. Most of its social programmes are funded by its oil wealth, and are predominantly focussed on citizens. 

While there are limited social programmes for expats, the reality is you don’t have anything approaching the kind of social security safety net you get in the UK, so you need to be driven to succeed. 

It’s a mindset thing. Or, as our founder, Jeremy Savory, says, it’s about “being able to do something with your life.”

In the UK, you get the benefits but also lots of obstacles in your path. In the UAE, you don’t get that, but instead they clear the runway and trust you enough not to fret about whether or not you get airborne. 

The UAE is a meritocracy, it’s business-friendly, it’s individualistic, yet it has a stronger sense of community than Britain. 

As an expat in the UAE, you will find precisely the kind of community that older generations in the UK lament no longer exists. That sense of community and fair play hasn’t gone, it’s just moved overseas. 

Much like the millions of Britain’s best and brightest who are seeking their fortunes elsewhere, over a quarter of a million in 2024 alone. 

So, what’s it going to be? Join up with the 21^st century jet set or stand around waiting for yet another bus replacement service? It’s a no-brainer really, take a look at our UK vs UAE comparison chart and you’ll soon see why.

	United Kingdom 🇬🇧	United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
Population:	68.4 million	10 million
Structure:	Four Home Countries	Seven Emirates
Government Type:	Constitutional monarchy (democratic)	Federation of monarchies (non-democratic)
Government Size:	Big Government	Small Government
Business Friendly:	Not Anymore	Yes
Social Welfare:	Expansive, multiple benefit programmes entirely funded by the taxpayer.	Smaller in scale, generally for citizens only with limited expat coverage, mainly petro-funded.
Taxation:	High. Income tax thresholds frozen until 2031, 45% income tax for high earners, non-dom programme cancelled. Additional wealth tax currently under debate.	Zero income tax, zero capital gains, wealth or inheritance taxes, 5% VAT (versus UK’s standard rate of 20%), highest rate of corporate tax is 9%.
Growth:	Stagflation	Stable
Social Mobility:	Low	High
Crime:	High	Extremely Low
Talent:	Brain drain & capital flight	Attracts best and brightest

From Dover To Dubai

Could gutsy entrepreneurs like Branson, Sinclair and Sugar succeed in the Britain of today?

Not a chance. 

They likely would have left the UK already. 

Not too long ago, the only reason to leave the UK was the weather. And, while retiring in sunny Spain remains a dream for many, others have given up on the UK completely and are moving to places where hard work and hustle are still appreciated. 

The destination these days is Dubai. It’s sunny, it’s safe, it’s tax-free and hustle-friendly, which is precisely why, as of 2024, approximately 240,000 Brits call Dubai their home. 

That number is growing, and, in the wake of Labour’s controversial budget and troubling economic policies, the influx is only going to rise further as the 2025 numbers are tallied and we move into 2026. 

UK vs UAE: Key Takeaways

• Though historically one of the most popular countries for immigrants, Britain is no longer considered a land of opportunity. 

• Britain was once the type of country where you could build a billion-pound business out of a £100 loan, but in 2025, upward mobility is dead. 

• The UK is currently experiencing stagflation, something which it hasn’t seen since the 1970s, while the threat of recession looms ever larger.

• Britain has seen an 80% change in net migration in the past three years – over a quarter of a million people left the UK in 2024 to move overseas. 

• The Labour government’s cancellation of the non-dom programme has exacerbated the problem by accelerating capital flight. A large number of HNWIs have since relocated to Dubai. 

• The UK taxes HNWIs at 45%, versus the UAE, which has no personal income tax, wealth tax or capital gains. 

• Contrary to popular belief, the cost of living is actually much cheaper in the UAE than central London.

• In 2024, the UAE had 240,000 British residents – and the number continues to rise. 

UK vs UAE: Conclusion

London calling? Not anymore. These days, the line is busy, but Dubai’s more than happy to answer your call.

In Britain, the queue is sacrosanct. So if people from the UK are pushing and shoving to get to the front of the line to leave, that tells you everything you need to know. 

The world is changing in ways we don’t yet fully understand. We can’t predict the future, but we can take stock of the present and position ourselves for success.

So, do you want high taxes or no taxes? Knife crime, or no crime? Sunshine and opportunity, or rain and stagnation? A nanny state or a government which supports your success? 

Do your soul-searching. Take a good, long look around you and ask yourself, “Can I be successful here? Is this really where I want to raise a family?” 

This is what our founder, Jeremy Savory, done. He left the UK in his 20s in search of brighter prospects, as many more young Englishmen have done since. Now he helps others find their footing in an increasingly uncertain world and discover their best lives overseas. 

Contact Millionaire Migrant today to find out how. 

UK vs UAE: FAQs

How does the UK and UAE compare tax-wise? 

The UK charges high rates of income tax, up to 45% for those earning over £125,140, while the UAE does not charge income tax or capital gains. 

Why are so many British people leaving the UK?

The high cost of living, dwindling opportunities and general post-Brexit malaise has resulted in a UK brain drain.

While the UK economy shows no sign of improving anytime soon, matters are only going to get worse as more and more of the nation’s best and brightest move overseas.

Why are so many wealthy people leaving the UK for the UAE?

Wealth flight from the UK began with Brexit and has accelerated under the Labour government. 

Under Labour, the UK scrapped their popular non-dom tax regime, which allowed HNWIs to be taxed on their locally-sourced income.

Additional measures such as the “mansion tax”, newly proposed regulations on crypto and a possible wealth tax have spooked HNWIs further, prompting an exodus to the UAE. 

How is the UK’s tax system getting worse? 

During the 2025 budget, the Labour government announced they were freezing income tax thresholds until 2031.

This means that, even as inflation and living costs rise, income tax thresholds will stay static. Those on lower bands who see an increase in income will be essentially punished for it, killing off any notions of upward mobility, because the more you earn, the earlier those tax thresholds will kick in.