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Move From the UK to Dubai and Keep Your Clients
Set up a Meydan Free Zone company, apply for investor residency, and plan your Emirates ID, family visas, banking and setup costs before you fly.
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TRANSPARENT PRICING
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Company Setup
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License Duration
1 Year
Shareholders
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Investor Visa (0)
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Employee Visa (0)
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Dependency Visa (0)
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Applicants Inside the UAE (0)
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- Innovation Fee AED 10.00
- Knowledge Fee AED 10.00
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YOUR UK CLIENTS
Working with UK Clients from Dubai
Do Your UK Clients Still Get You 0% Corporate Tax in Dubai?
The free zone regime rewards exactly the business you already have. Income from clients outside the UAE is qualifying income, taxed at 0%, while income from Dubai mainland clients is 9%. The British client list you were worried about losing makes the structure qualify, and it is why a free zone company beats a mainland one, which has no 0% route at all.
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Can You Keep Invoicing Your UK Clients from Dubai?
Your clients keep receiving invoices, and the VAT position barely moves. A Dubai company supplying a UK VAT-registered business sits outside the scope of UK VAT, so you invoice without it and your client accounts for it under the reverse charge, reclaiming it on the same return at no net cost. Same work, same relationship, just a different entity on the paperwork. B2C and digital sales run on separate rules. And the license holding all this does more than house the company: it sponsors your residency and your spouse's, who can sit on the payroll or the share register.
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Will HMRC Investigate You If You Move to Dubai?
Neither HMRC nor the FTA takes the filing at face value. Your limited company can stay open, since the Companies Act sets no residency requirement for directors, but a UK-incorporated company remains a UK tax resident wherever you live and keeps paying 19% to 25% corporation tax; keeping it and moving your profit are separate decisions. Put UK-based staff to work for your Dubai company and you may create a permanent establishment, which pulls those profits back into UK corporation tax with PAYE and NI behind them.
HMRC's interest was never in the fact that you left. It is in the Statutory Residence Test (days, ties, workdays) and in where the company is genuinely controlled from. The UAE asks the same question from its own side: free zone status is not automatic, and keeping it means real substance here, audited accounts, and non-qualifying income below the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5M.
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CHOOSE YOUR PACKAGE
What’s Included in Your Dubai Business License from Meydan Free Zone?
Moving To UAE
How Long Does Moving From the UK to Dubai Actually Take?
It is faster than most people expect. Your license can be issued in a day, and your visa and Emirates ID follow within a couple of weeks. Give the whole move four to eight weeks, and most of that will be your own logistics.
Week 0
Decide
and Plan
Choose your business activities, model your setup costs, and speak to a setup advisor before starting your application.
Day 1
Get Your License
Fawri issues your license in under 60 minutes, while the standard business license can be delivered in a day.
Day 2 - 10
Visa and Emirates ID
Receive your entry permit, then complete your medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID issuance after arriving in Dubai.
Week 2 - 4
Handle the Essentials
Open your bank accounts, view homes, register your tenancy with Ejari and connect your DEWA utilities.
Week 4 -8
Family and Logistics
Sponsor your dependants, confirm school places, ship your belongings and exchange your UK driving license after arrival.
Day 30
30 Days Checklist
Emirates ID in your wallet, bank account live, tenancy registered, health insurance active and corporate tax registration completed.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
What Happens Next?
Once you submit the form, we'll get your company set up, then your visa and Emirates ID sorted. After that it's just the life admin.
UK Tax
Will You Still Pay UK Tax If You Live in Dubai?
Leaving the UK doesn't end your UK tax position. The Statutory Residence Test decides your status each tax year, based on your days in the UK and the ties you keep. Get the exit right and your foreign income sits outside UK tax.
How many days can I spend in the UK without being a tax resident?
Fewer than 16 if you were a UK resident in any of the previous three tax years, or fewer than 46 if you were not. At 183 days you are automatically resident. In between, your ties decide: four ties allow 45 days, three allow 90, two allow 120, one allows 182.
What counts as a UK tie?
Family, accommodation, work, 90 days, and country. The more you keep, the fewer days you are allowed. Forty workdays in the UK, at three hours or more, creates a work tie. The 90-day tie catches most leavers, triggering on 90-plus days in either of the last two tax years.
Do I need to file a P85?
Yes, file it, either as the form or through the residence pages of your Self Assessment return. Understand what it does, though. It tells HMRC you have gone. It does not decide whether you have.
What is split-year treatment?
It divides the tax year you leave into resident and non-resident parts, so income earned from the date of departure sits outside UK tax. It has to be evidenced: day counts, boarding passes, tenancy agreements, board minutes.
Can HMRC tax my Dubai income?
Not once you are genuinely non-resident. Your Dubai salary falls outside UK income tax, and your company's profits outside UK corporation tax. Residence is the whole question, which is why the test above matters more than anything else on this page.
Can I pay myself dividends from my UK company after moving?
Dividends from a UK company are disregarded income for non-residents, so the UK charge is capped at tax deducted at source, and for dividends that is nil.
Do I still pay National Insurance?
Compulsory contributions stop. Voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 contributions are usually worth continuing, since 35 qualifying years buys a full State Pension and little else you can buy on the way out returns as much.
Do I still repay my Student Loan?
The loan follows you. The Student Loans Company moves you to direct payments and applies a UAE-specific threshold rather than the UK one. Go quiet and they do not assume you are earning nothing. They put you on a fixed monthly repayment, usually higher than your actual income would produce.
Can I keep my ISA?
It stays open and keeps its UK tax shelter, but closes to new money the moment you are non-resident, and you must tell your provider. Be clear-eyed about what it does for you, though: a non-resident sits largely outside UK tax on investments anyway.
Should I transfer my UK pension to a QROPS?
No QROPS is established in the UAE, so you cannot meet the same-country condition, and transferring to a QROPS elsewhere triggers HMRC's 25% Overseas Transfer Charge. A £400,000 pot loses £100,000 to the charge on day one. Your pension can stay in the UK and be drawn from Dubai.
Can I rent out my house in the UK?
Yes, speak to your lender: consent to let is a short-term permission and most won't extend it to a permanent move abroad, so you are likely looking at an expat buy-to-let mortgage. Letting without one breaches your terms. Then apply to HMRC on form NRL1 for approval to receive your rent gross. Without it, your letting agent must deduct 20% before paying you, and a tenant renting directly must do the same above £100 a week.
Will my UK bank close my account?
Some providers drop non-resident customers once a UAE address is registered, often with little warning. Open whatever you need while you still have a UK address, and tell your bank rather than letting them find out. An account frozen mid-move is a real headache.
What happens if I move back to the UK within five years?
Temporary non-residence. Certain income and gains you realised while abroad become taxable on your return, including dividends from a close company you controlled before leaving. Stripping several years of profit out in year one and coming home in year four is the expensive version.
Do I still pay UK inheritance tax if I live in Dubai?
Your worldwide assets stay in scope while you count as a long-term resident: UK tax resident for 10 of the last 20 tax years. That persists for three to ten years after you leave. Born and raised in Britain? Assume the full ten.
Is my UK property still subject to inheritance tax?
Permanently. Property, accounts and investments situated in the UK stay within the net wherever you live and however long you have been gone. The long-term resident test governs your foreign assets only.
Do I need a UAE will?
UAE-situated assets can otherwise pass under default succession rules that may not follow your intentions. Non-Muslim residents can register through the DIFC Wills Service to direct those assets and appoint guardians for children.
Open a Bank Account
How Do You Set up Your Finances in Dubai?
Your company can be registered and your visa process started entirely online from the UK. Corporate bank applications can begin as soon as your license is issued, and personal accounts typically open within days of your Emirates ID arriving.
Opening a Bank Account
You will need your passport, residence visa and Emirates ID, plus your trade license for a business account. Digital banks clear straightforward applications in days, while traditional banks take longer but suit higher volumes and credit facilities. What moves an application along is consistency: your licensed business activities, your invoices and your business description all telling the same story. Meydan Free Zone works with 26+ banking partners and supports founders through the corporate account process, with a guaranteed IBAN pathway, and includes a lease agreement in every package.
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Moving Money Between GBP and AED
The dirham is pegged to the US dollar, which gives your AED earnings stability. Against sterling it moves as the dollar does, so if you have kept UK costs like a mortgage or school fees, your income and outgoings sit in currencies that drift apart. Getting profit out is straightforward: the UAE has no exchange controls and no withholding tax, so repatriating to Britain is a transfer, not a tax event. For the transfer itself, regulated money services usually beat bank wires. Compare the total cost, not just the fee.
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How Corporate Tax Works in Dubai
The UAE introduced corporate tax in 2023 at 9% on profits above AED 375,000, with nothing charged below it. Free zone companies keep the 0% rate as a Qualifying Free Zone Person, and only on qualifying income. The conditions: adequate substance in the UAE, audited accounts, transfer pricing compliance, and non-qualifying income below the lower of 5% of revenue or AED 5M. Your company registers with the Federal Tax Authority and files annually, whichever rate applies, so it is worth structuring properly from the start.
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How Money Works Differently in Dubai
Rent is typically paid in one to four cheques a year rather than monthly, so year one needs a larger cash buffer than a UK tenancy. Your UK credit history does not travel with you, and the AECB builds a fresh local record from your first Dubai account. There is no personal income tax return to file. Your company registers with the Federal Tax Authority and files annually, and claiming the 0% qualifying rate for corporate tax requires audited accounts, so it is worth building that in from year one.
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UAE Visa
What Brits Ask About Dubai Visas
Getting a Dubai visa is usually straightforward. The important part is understanding that your visa validity, UAE tax residency and UK tax status are governed by separate rules, especially if you continue spending time in Britain.
Do I need a job offer to move to Dubai?
No. Setting up your own company and sponsoring yourself is the standard route for founders, and it is why most British movers arrive on an investor visa rather than an employment one. Your business license becomes the sponsor.
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How long is a standard residence visa?
Two years for a free zone investor visa, renewable. The ten-year Golden Visa is a separate category with its own thresholds, not an upgrade you grow into automatically.
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How long does the whole process take?
Days, not months. The license can be issued in under an hour, then entry permit, medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID typically complete within a week to ten days of arrival.
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Can I start before I fly?
Yes. Company registration and the visa process both begin online from the UK. You arrive to complete the medical and biometrics, which have to be done in person.
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How long can I leave the UAE before my visa is cancelled?
180 continuous days. Past that, a standard residence visa is nullified automatically under Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, regardless of the expiry date printed on it.
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Does a short trip back reset the clock?
Yes, and this is the part worth knowing. The count measures continuous absence from your last exit stamp, so a single day in the UAE resets it to zero. Airside transit does not count. You have to clear immigration.
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Is the 180-day rule the same as the tax rules?
No, and conflating them is an expensive mistake. Three clocks run at once. 180 days away cancels your visa. A UAE Tax Residency Certificate needs 183 days here, or 90 with conditions. UK non-residence needs fewer than 16 days in Britain, or more if your ties allow. You can hold a valid visa and still fail both tax tests.
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What if I'm about to hit the 180-day limit?
Apply for a re-entry permit through GDRFA or ICP before you hit the limit, with a fine for each month beyond the 180 days. Golden, Green and Blue Visa holders are exempt from the rule entirely.
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What happens if I close my company?
Your investor visa is tied to the business license, so it goes when the license goes, and your dependants' visas go with yours. Theirs cannot outlast the sponsor's.
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How long is the grace period?
Between 30 days and 180, depending on your category, with investors at the longer end. Check yours on the ICP portal under File Validity rather than assuming. Overstaying costs AED 50 a day.
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What happens to my bank account?
Your bank account does not automatically close when your visa is cancelled. You must notify your bank and update your residency and KYC details. Depending on the bank and account type, it may remain open, convert to non-resident status or need to be closed.
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Can I come back to Dubai?
Yes, but if the visa lapsed you restart the process: new entry permit, new medical, new Emirates ID, as a first-time applicant. A rejection or an unresolved cancellation makes the next application harder.
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YOUR ROUTE TO RESIDENCY
Which Dubai Visa Route Should You Choose?
Employer Route
I have a UAE job offer
Your employer usually sponsors the visa and controls the process.
Good if hired locally- Less control over timing
Recommended
I want to sponsor myself
Set up your own UAE company and use it as the base for investor residency.
- No job offer required
- Business license included
- Family sponsorship pathway
Remote Worker
I work for an overseas company
A remote work visa may fit employees who are not setting up a UAE business.
- One-year route
- Not always ideal for founders
Family Visa
Moving Your Family From the UK to Dubai
Moving your family is straightforward when the paperwork is prepared in the right order. Start attesting key documents before you leave, as this can determine how quickly their visas are issued after you arrive.
Can You Bring Your Family to Dubai?
Yes. With Meydan Free Zone, you can add up to six visa allocations to your business license.
Once you obtain UAE residency through your company, you can sponsor eligible family members, subject to immigration requirements. This includes demonstrating a monthly income of at least AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with accommodation, alongside the required company, housing and family documents.
What to Sort Before You Fly
Attestation is what delays families, and it has to be done in Britain. Your marriage certificate and each birth certificate need attesting through the UAE Embassy in London, then MOFA in the UAE, with certified Arabic translations.
Unattested certificates are the most cited cause of spouse visa rejections, and starting the chain again from Dubai costs weeks. You will also need a registered Ejari tenancy contract before you can sponsor anyone, so housing comes before family visas. Everyone over 18 sits a medical fitness test after arrival.
What British Schools Are Like in Dubai
Dubai has more than 100 schools teaching the National Curriculum for England, one of the largest concentrations of British education outside the UK.
Children sit the same GCSEs and A Levels they would at home.
Every private school is inspected and rated by the KHDA, with ratings and fees published so you can compare before you arrive. Apply early, as places at the most sought-after schools can fill quickly. For families used to state education in the UK, school fees are one of the biggest new costs to plan for.
Healthcare for Your Family
Health insurance is mandatory for every Dubai resident and is arranged by your sponsor: your employer, or your own company if you are self-sponsored.
That covers each dependant, and their visa cannot complete without it, so it sits in your year-one budget rather than after the move. Check the waiting periods before choosing a policy, particularly for maternity.
Dubai's private hospitals rank among the best in the region, with short waiting times and English-speaking care as standard.
Read the full guide to healthcare in Dubai for UK movers.
Rent
Where Do British Expats Live in Dubai, And How Does Rent Work?
Dubai has several markets in one. Waterfront towers, leafy villa communities and value-led suburbs all sit within a 30-minute drive of each other. These are the areas where Brits most often settle.
Which Areas Do Brits
Choose?
Families head for the villa communities: Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills Estate, The Springs and Jumeirah Park, all within reach of the British schools that usually drive the decision. Couples and singles take apartments in Dubai Marina, JLT, Downtown and Business Bay, where the Metro matters more. Value sits further out in JVC, Motor City and Al Furjan. Most people pick the school first and the postcode second, then commute from there.
Should You Rent or
Buy in Year One?
Rent first. Renting lets you test commutes, schools and communities before committing, and Dubai tenancy law caps renewal increases through the official RERA rental index. Buying makes sense once you know the city, and UK nationals can purchase freehold property in designated areas. Most people who buy in year one buy in the wrong place.
How Do Deposits and
Cheques Work?
Dubai rent is usually paid in one to four cheques a year, so budget for a larger upfront outlay than a UK monthly tenancy. Expect a 5 percent refundable security deposit, around 5 percent agency commission, Ejari registration of around AED 220, and a refundable DEWA deposit of AED 2,000 for an apartment. A housing fee of 5 percent of annual rent is billed monthly through DEWA. Ask whether cooling is included before you sign: chiller charges can turn a good rent into an expensive one.
Getting Set Up Locally
Dubai asks less of you than most people expect. Your Emirates ID is what opens the door, and the rules behind it are more relaxed than the reputation suggests.
Can You Swap Your UK Driving License for a Dubai One?
Yes. Once you become a Dubai resident, you can exchange a valid UK driving license for a Dubai license without taking a theory or road test. You will need your Emirates ID, original UK license and a valid electronic eye test. The application can be completed through the RTA or at an authorised service centre.
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Can You Drink Alcohol in Dubai?
Yes. Non-Muslims aged 21 and over can drink alcohol in licensed venues and private residences. Dubai residents need a free alcohol license to purchase from authorised retailers, which can be obtained using an Emirates ID. Drinking in public is prohibited, and Dubai has zero tolerance for driving under the influence.
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What Is Summer Actually Like In Dubai?
Dubai summers are extremely hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C between June and September. Most daily life moves indoors, while outdoor activities are usually limited to early mornings and evenings. From October to April, the weather becomes milder and the city’s beaches, parks and outdoor venues come back to life.
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Taxation
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Living in Dubai
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Residential areas
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Residency / Visa / EID
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Business License
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Questions? Answers.
What is the best visa route for UK founders moving to Dubai?
For founders, consultants and business owners, setting up a Meydan Free Zone company and applying for an investor visa is usually the most practical route. It combines a UAE business licese with renewable two-year residency, an Emirates ID and a pathway to sponsor eligible family members.
How do I get an investor visa through Meydan Free Zone?
First, register your Meydan Free Zone company and select your visa allocations. Meydan Free Zone then supports your immigration application and entry permit. Once you arrive in Dubai, you complete your medical fitness test and biometrics before your residency and Emirates ID are issued.
Can I start the process while I am still in the UK?
Yes. Your company can be registered online, and the initial investor visa process can begin before you relocate. You will need to visit Dubai to complete the medical fitness test and biometrics required for your residence visa and Emirates ID.
How long is a Meydan Free Zone investor visa valid?
A Meydan Free Zone investor visa is typically valid for two years and can be renewed while your company license remains active and the applicable immigration requirements are met. Your Emirates ID is normally valid for the same period as your residence visa.
How many visa allocations can I add to my business license?
Meydan Free Zone business licenses can include up to six company visa allocations, depending on your setup requirements. These can support residency applications for company owners and employees. Family visas are applied for separately once your own UAE residency is active.
Can I sponsor my spouse and children?
Yes. Once your investor residency is active, you can apply to sponsor eligible family members. Applications are subject to current immigration requirements and may require proof of income, suitable accommodation, health insurance and attested documents confirming your relationship.
Do my UK documents need to be attested?
Marriage and birth certificates used for family sponsorship generally need to be legalised by the FCDO, attested by the UAE Embassy in London and approved by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Requirements can vary by document, so begin the process before leaving the UK.
How long can I remain outside the UAE?
As a general rule, a standard UAE residence visa may become invalid if you remain outside the country for more than 180 consecutive days. Visa validity and tax residency are separate issues, so holding a valid investor visa does not automatically establish your UK or UAE tax position.
What is the difference between an investor visa and a remote work visa?
The remote work visa is a one-year residence route for people employed by a company outside the UAE. The investor visa is generally better suited to founders who want to own and operate a UAE company, obtain two-year residency and build their business from Dubai.
Is the investor visa the same as the Golden Visa?
No. The Golden Visa is a separate long-term residency programme for people who meet specific investment, entrepreneurial or professional criteria. Meydan Free Zone offers the two-year investor visa through company formation; Golden Visa applications are assessed separately by the relevant immigration authority.
Do I need a physical office for my company?
No. A flexi-desk and registered business address are included with Meydan Free Zone licenses, allowing you to establish your company without immediately renting a private office. You can move into a dedicated workspace later as your business grows.
Can I open a Dubai bank account after setting up my company?
Yes. You can begin your corporate bank account application once your trade license is issued. Meydan Free Zone works with more than 26 banking and fintech partners and provides a guaranteed IBAN pathway. Final account approval and available services remain subject to the bank’s compliance checks.
Can I continue working with my UK clients?
Yes. You can serve and invoice UK clients through your UAE company. However, your tax position depends on factors including your personal residence, where the work is performed, where the company is managed and whether you retain business operations or staff in the UK.
Do I need to tell HMRC that I am leaving the UK?
Yes. Use form P85 if you do not normally complete Self Assessment. If you file Self Assessment, report your departure through the residence pages, form SA109. Informing HMRC does not determine your tax status; that is established under the Statutory Residence Test.
What is the Statutory Residence Test?
The Statutory Residence Test determines whether you are UK tax resident for each tax year. It considers factors including how many days you spend in the UK, your work, accommodation and family ties. Your result can change from one tax year to the next, so keep accurate travel and workday records.
What happens to my UK pension and ISAs?
You can generally retain your UK pension and continue accessing it under the scheme’s rules. You can also keep your ISA, but you must tell your provider and cannot normally add new money while non-resident. From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included when calculating an estate’s UK inheritance tax position.
Can I drive in Dubai using my UK driving license?
Visitors can generally drive a rental car using a valid UK driving license. Once you become a Dubai resident, you can apply to exchange an eligible UK license for a UAE license without taking a road test. You will need to meet the RTA’s document and eye-test requirements.
Can I bring my pet from the UK?
Yes. Cats and dogs require a valid UAE import permit, microchip, vaccination record and approved veterinary health certificate. The UK is currently classified as a low-risk country, but age, vaccination and restricted-breed requirements still apply.
Is health insurance mandatory in Dubai?
Yes. Health insurance is mandatory for Dubai residents, including dependants. As a self-sponsored investor, you are responsible for arranging suitable cover for yourself and the family members you sponsor.
What are my business compliance obligations?
You must keep proper accounting records, renew your license and visas before expiry, register for UAE corporate tax and submit the required returns. Qualifying Free Zone Persons may receive a 0% corporate tax rate on qualifying income, while other taxable income may be subject to 9%. VAT registration becomes mandatory when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000.