London24NEWS

Is transferring to Dubai actually all it is cracked as much as be? From the value of lodging, to procuring, vitality payments and taxes, the actual value of beginning a brand new life within the vacation hotspot

  • Have you moved from the UK for Dubai? Email: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk 

Moving from the UK to the United Arab Emirates has become a well-trodden path for Britons in recent years looking for a glitzy relocation and a better quality of life.

This week, it emerged boxer Amir Khan has become the latest to head to Dubai after a terrifying gunpoint robbery left him feeling too scared to stay in the UK.

Aside from feeling safer, Britons are also attracted by a range of factors such as the warm climate, tax-free income and high-end restaurants, property and shops.

More than 240,000 British expats are now estimated to live in Dubai, with many attracted to the city by the 5,000 British companies now operating in the UAE.

There has been a 420 per cent rise in the five years to 2024 in enquiries from UK nationals wanting to relocate to the country, according to John Mason International Movers – with a 45 per cent surge in the 12 months to March last year alone.

However, prices in Dubai have risen 124 per cent since 2020 according to Knight Frank – with some British expats said to have been priced out as property is bought up by wealthy Russians after Vladimir Putin‘s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Now, MailOnline has analysed the cost-of-living across factors such as eating out, transport and clothing to compare London against the UAE city – which is seven hours by plane with prices from £284 for one-way flights and £361 for a round trip.

Data from the crowdsourced database Numbeo suggests a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant is £80 in London compared to £57 in Dubai.

But an imported 330ml beer is half the price in London, at an average of £5.25 compared to £10.93 in Dubai; while a cappuccino is £3.74 in London against £4.67 in Dubai. 

A McDonalds meal is roughly the same, at £8 in London compared to £7.65 in Dubai.

A supermarket trip will see prices vary, such as for a litre of milk (£1.27 London or £1.47 Dubai) and a 500g loaf of fresh white bread (£1.51 London or £1.17 Dubai).

But if you are a smoker, cigarettes are 70 per cent cheaper with a 20 pack of Marlboro costing an average of £16.25 in London or £5.03 in Dubai.

Petrol is also far cheaper in Dubai at 64p per litre compared to £1.47 in London, while a 1km taxi journey on a normal tariff is also 64p in Dubai or £2.50 in London.

An average basic utility bill for electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage for an 85 sq metre apartment in London is £236.75 or £183.23 in Dubai.

However, internet access is significantly more in the UAE, with a minimum 60 mbps connection with unlimited data costing £80.97 in Dubai or £31.53 in London.

As for clothes shopping, a pair of Levi 501 jeans is £77 in London or £60 in Dubai, while a pair of mid-range Nike running trainers is £90 in London or £84 in Dubai. 

Amir Khan with his wife Faryal Makhdoom and his daughters, Lamaisah, ten, Alayan, six, who have chosen to relocate from the UK to Dubai

Amir Khan with his wife Faryal Makhdoom and his daughters, Lamaisah, ten, Alayan, six, who have chosen to relocate from the UK to Dubai

Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates known for its luxury properties and high-end shops

Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates known for its luxury properties and high-end shops

Sheffield graduate Catherine Earl, who featured in a Channel 4 series last year called 'Dubai: Buying The Dream', earns £200,000 a year in Dubai after leaving a job at Boots in Nottingham

Sheffield graduate Catherine Earl, who featured in a Channel 4 series last year called ‘Dubai: Buying The Dream’, earns £200,000 a year in Dubai after leaving a job at Boots in Nottingham

When it comes to leisure, a monthly fee for a fitness club is £47.57 in London or £64.46 in Dubai; while a trip to the cinema is £14 in London or £10.93 in Dubai.

One of the biggest drivers for Londoners moving to Dubai is property, given it is significantly cheaper in the UAE. The price per square metre to buy a city centre apartment is £5,389 in Dubai compared to £15,885 in London.

Dark side of Dubai: All the strict rules tourists must follow – or risk jail 

By Esther Marshall 

Dubai is renowned for its glitz and glamour, but holidaymakers must also be aware of it’s ultra-strict laws. Here are rules Britons must follow there: 

Photography

The UK Government explains on its UAE travel advice page that it’s illegal to take photos of some government buildings and military installations as well as to photograph people without their permission in the UAE.

Simon Hood, executive director at shipping company John Mason International , tells MailOnline: ‘Over there, snapping a quick photo of someone without their permission, is a serious no-go and can land you in trouble – even if it’s just in the background. It’s not just about courtesy – it’s the law.’

Virtual private networks (VPNs)

Mr Hood explains: ‘There’s a big issue with VPNs. In the UK, plenty of people use them to access restricted sites or simply for security, but in Dubai, using a VPN to bypass blocks is illegal.

‘Many travellers forget they’ve got these running on their devices and inadvertently find themselves breaking the law.’

Social media

The UK Government explains: ‘It is illegal to post material, including videos and photographs, online that is critical of the government, companies or individuals, or which relates to incidents in the UAE.’

Think you could get away with it? Think again. An Irish man, for example, is facing ‘several years’ in a Dubai jail for sending a ninja emoji to an acquaintance who is alleged to have stolen his belongings.

Mr Hood adds: ‘Sharing anything that could be seen as defamatory, offensive, or invasive – like posting photos of strangers or sharing videos of an accident – is not only frowned upon but can also lead to hefty fines or worse.’

Poppy seeds

Poppy seeds, even in bakery products, are on the UAE’s list of ‘controlled substances’, warns the US Government . That’s because they can be contaminated with opiates.

Some medication – including codeine

‘Medication can be tricky,’ explains Mr Hood, adding: ‘Common UK medications, like codeine, are controlled substances. If you’re carrying them without a prescription or proper documentation, you could find yourself in hot water.’

Sexual relationships

While a consensual relationship outside marriage, including extra-marital relationships, between a man and woman over the age of 18 is generally legal in Dubai, the UK Government warns that there are exceptions. In an extra-marital relationship, if the other person’s spouse or parent files a complaint, both people involved in the relationship can get a prison sentence of six months or more.

If a person aged 18 has a relationship with someone 17 or under, they will be prosecuted for a sexual relationship with a minor. If both people are under 18, they will be prosecuted but punishment is unlikely to involve a prison sentence.

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in the UAE and same-sex marriages are not recognised.

Showing affection in public

Showing affection in public, such as kissing, is frowned upon. Tourists could be arrested for doing so, warns the UK Government.

Banned items

Mr Hood explains: ‘Items like drones, e-cigarettes, or hoverboards often need special permits. And some things you wouldn’t think twice about at home – like books with themes of magic or witchcraft (Harry Potter comes to mind) – can attract extra scrutiny at customs.

‘I remember one case where a client insisted on packing their own shipment and used UK red-top newspapers to wrap everything. Customs flagged the shipment because of the provocative images and headlines on the paper, which delayed everything by weeks and led to extra costs.’

Swearing

The UK Government explains: ‘It is illegal to swear and make rude gestures, including online, as they are considered obscene acts. You could be jailed or deported.’

Alcohol

It is illegal to drink or be under the influence of alcohol in a public place in the UAE, warns the UK Government.

Tourists can buy and drink alcohol at licensed hotels, restaurants and bars but a licence is required to consume alcohol in a private residence.

Illegal drugs

The UK Government warns that there is ‘zero tolerance’ for drug-related offences in the UAE.

Possession of a small amount of illegal drugs can lead to a three-month prison sentence, while a drug trafficking offence could lead to the death penalty.

CBD products

‘Herbal highs’ and products containing cannabidiol (CBD) are illegal in the UAE. Even skincare products or e-cigarettes containing CBD oil could land someone with criminal charges, explains the UK Government.

Driving etiquette

‘Offensive gestures and bad language directed at other drivers can lead to fines, a jail sentence and possibly deportation,’ warns the UK Government.

Cross-dressing

The UK Government explains that cross-dressing is illegal in the UAE. It adds that ‘women should cover shoulders and knees, and underwear should not be visible’ – and swimwear should only be worn on beaches or at swimming pools.

Ramadan rules

World Nomads Insurance explains: ‘During the holy month of Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking is forbidden between sunrise and sunset, and non-Muslims are expected to follow this principle in public as well.’

Mr Hood adds: ‘Even away from this this time of year, it is illegal to eat and drink on public transport.’

Advertisement

And the rental cost of a one-bedroom city centre apartment is £1,797 in Dubai against £2,179 in London.

Those with young children will also find nursery costs are much cheaper at £672 in Dubai versus £1,790 in London for private full-day care each month.

Numbeo’s most recent safety index also ranked Dubai as the second-safest city in the world out of 382 locations – behind only Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital. 

London was in 279th place – only just above Baghdad in Iraq and Odessa in Ukraine.

Simon Hood, executive director of global removal firm John Mason International, told MailOnline that Dubai has ‘basically become the cheat code for Brits looking to upgrade their lives’.

He said: ‘Think about it – no grey skies, no endless taxes, just sun, money, and opportunity. You swap miserable commutes for beachside brunches, and instead of handing over half your salary in tax, you keep every penny. That alone is enough to make people pack their bags.

‘Then there’s the career acceleration. The UK job market feels stagnant in comparison – Dubai, on the other hand, is booming. If you’re in finance, tech, real estate, or law, your earning potential jumps massively.

‘And the networking? It’s a city full of entrepreneurs, investors, and high-achievers—people aren’t just talking about ideas; they’re making things happen.

‘For families, it’s safety, top international schools, and a ridiculous standard of living. You’re not just moving house – you’re upgrading your entire lifestyle.’

Mr Hood added that the UK ‘just isn’t working anymore’ for many people thanks to the soaring cost-of-living and concerns over taxation.

But he said: ‘Dubai flips the script. The UAE government is actively rolling out the red carpet for talent – Golden Visas, Remote Work Visas, Freelancer Visas – all designed to make it as easy as possible to move.’

Mr Hood gave the example of a London-based software engineer earning £70,000, who takes home around £49,000 after tax in the UK.

He said that in Dubai, that person keeps all £70,000 which is an extra £21,000 a year which covers rent in a luxury apartment, school fees, or just more disposable income.

Mr Hood continued: ‘Because things like fuel, eating out, and luxury experiences are often cheaper, your money stretches further.

‘And then there’s remote work. If you can do your job from anywhere, why would you stay in a place where half your salary vanishes in tax when you could do the same job from a Dubai beach club? People aren’t just moving for jobs anymore – they’re moving for freedom.’

He cited how Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Barclays were expanding their presence in Dubai, while it was also trying to position itself as the ‘Silicon Valley of the Middle East’ – with UK software engineers, cybersecurity professionals and data analysts in high demand.

Mr Hood said relocation costs depend on how much people are bringing and how they want to live. For a full household move, with a four-bed house door to door, with insurance and customs clearance it would be £5,000 to £6,000. But for a minimalist move of five to ten boxes, it would be £250 to £500.

He said once people are there, a one-bed apartment in Dubai Marina or Downtown is £1,500 to £2,500 per month, while a family villa in the Arabian Ranches, Jumeirah or Dubai Hills areas is £3,500 to £6,000 per month. Top-tier international schools come in at £10,000 to £25,000 per year.

Mr Hood concluded: ‘So yes, Dubai is expensive. But when you keep 100 per cent of your salary, even with higher living costs, you’re still financially ahead.’

Mike Harvey, managing director at 1st Move International, told MailOnline that 12 per cent of all relocation inquiries received by his firm are for the UAE.

He added: ‘Brits are drawn to the UAE’s sunny climate and outdoor lifestyle, a welcome change from the UK’s unpredictable weather. 

‘The country’s luxurious amenities, diverse landscapes, and high standard of living are also major pluses. With a thriving job market, especially in technology, finance, and healthcare, this is a major incentive for British professionals seeking career advancement and higher salaries.

‘Dubai stands out with its sunny weather, modern infrastructure, and safe environment – perfect for families. The absence of income tax significantly increases take-home pay, making Dubai even more attractive.

‘The number of British people relocating to Dubai is expected to keep rising as Brits continue to seek career opportunities and a better quality of life overseas. Although relocating to Dubai can be more expensive, the cost of living is influenced by personal lifestyle choices, housing preferences, and family size. The tax-free salaries offered in Dubai can also offset the cost of moving.’

This week, Amir Khan revealed he had fled to Dubai three years after being targeted for his £72,000 Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph watch as he dined with his wife Faryal Makhdoom and friend Omar Khalid at the Sahara Grill in Leyton, East London.

An armed robber ran at Khan and yelled at him to ‘take off the watch’, while pointing a gun to his face on April 18, 2022. Dante Campbell and Ahmed Bana later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and possession of an imitation firearm.

Bana was handed a nine-year and eight-month prison sentence while his co-defendant Campbell was put behind bars for seven years and nine months, with the watch later returned by police officers.

The attack spurred the boxer to move his family, which includes his three children, Lamaisah, ten, Alayan, six and Muhammad Zaviyar, four, over 4,000 miles away to Dubai.

Khan said he lived a life without fear in Dubai, telling The Sun: ‘I can leave my car door open, it’s just so much safer here. I think the law is much more strict, I think people like us need that.

He added that he had sometimes been to cafes in the UK where fights had broken out which would see ‘gang[s] of people outside’.

‘I don’t need that in my life – I’m a retired fighter. I’ve been fighting all my life, there’s no point starting fights on the streets or getting into problems,’ he added.

‘Then the gun crime happened, I just wanted to give the watch away and said, ‘There you go, what do you want? Do you want the watch? There you go, take it.”

In 2012, Khan and his brother Haroon were attacked in Birmingham by six men, who attempted to steal the boxer’s £125,000 Range Rover – but the brothers managed to fight them off.

In 2017, Khan was also set upon by a group of men after road rage incident in his hometown of Bolton.

Dubai is seen attractive thanks to factors such as tax-free income and high-end restaurants

Dubai is seen attractive thanks to factors such as tax-free income and high-end restaurants

Luxury restaurants are a major draw in Dubai, including this one near Burj Khalifa Lake

Luxury restaurants are a major draw in Dubai, including this one near Burj Khalifa Lake 

Vehicles are driven along a road with Dubai's iconic skyline in the background last month

Vehicles are driven along a road with Dubai’s iconic skyline in the background last month

But it was the terrifying 2022 gunpoint robbery that cemented his decision to head abroad, adding that the situation could have been worse if his children has been present.

Khan, who lived in Bolton, added: ‘It’s just when you’ve go out of town it gets a little bit scary sometimes, you just don’t know what can happen, you don’t know the area that well, you don’t know the people there.’

Last week, an estate agent claimed he felt forced to move to Dubai after years of fly-tipping, street drinking, public urination and ‘hooliganism’ on his East London street.

Top destinations for millionaires leaving UK

  • Dubai 
  • Paris
  • Amsterdam
  • Monaco
  • Geneva
  • Sydney
  • Singapore
  • Florida
  • Algarve
  • Malta
  • Italian Riviera

Advertisement

Kamran Hussain began looking for real estate jobs in the UAE to try and escape the ‘nightmare’ of living on Lansdown Road in Forest Gate.

He moved alone last March, but said he was scared for the safety of his mother, niece, and sister in law, who all still live on the street.

Mr Hussain said: ‘I was born in London, and I’ve lived on that road all my life but I don’t recognise it anymore. The corner of Lansdown Road at both ends is a known road for fly-tippers, and it’s not your normal fly-tipping.

‘I’m talking about fridges, sofas, kitchen cabinets – it’s ridiculous. We also have these usual suspects who are street drinking during the day, as well as urinating and defecating. They are exposing themselves in front of neighbours – women and kids.’

He added that his family struggled to sell their home when they tried to move and blamed the situation in the street for putting off potential buyers.

Mr Hussain called on Newham Council to install CCTV in the road and carry out regular patrols – and the local authority said the road is scheduled to be manually swept by street cleaners every Friday, with litter-picking taking place every Wednesday.

Meanwhile online travel firm On The Beach said it had seen Dubai ‘soar in popularity year after year’ although more travellers were also exploring other nearby destinations such as Ras Al-Khaimah.

Zoe Harris, the firm’s chief customer officer, told MailOnline: ‘Dubai has always been the stuff of holiday dreams for Brits, but let’s be honest – some people are starting to think why just visit when you could stay?

‘It’s got sunshine on tap, luxury living that somehow costs less than a flat in Zone 2, and enough jaw-dropping skyscrapers to make your hometown high street look a bit… well, basic.’

She added that some people going on holiday to Dubai were being tempted to move out permanently, saying: ‘Whether it’s the next-level beaches, world-class dining, or just the fact that your Instagram feed looks ten times fancier after a week there, it’s no surprise that a holiday sometimes just isn’t enough.

Amir Khan and his wife Faryal Makhdoom at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai on January 21, 2023

Amir Khan and his wife Faryal Makhdoom at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai on January 21, 2023

Amir Khan posted this image on Instagram in 2020 of a holiday home he had bought in Dubai

Amir Khan posted this image on Instagram in 2020 of a holiday home he had bought in Dubai

The moment Khan was robbed at gunpoint for his £72,000 watch in East London in April 2022

The moment Khan was robbed at gunpoint for his £72,000 watch in East London in April 2022

‘One taste of that sun-soaked, five-star lifestyle, and suddenly, a week away starts feeling way too short.’

Earlier this month, analysts revealed that more than 10,000 millionaires have left Britain in the past year.

Concern over growing taxes in the UK following October’s Budget, the growing dominance of the US and Asia in the global hi-tech sector, the ‘dwindling’ importance of the London Stock Exchange and the ‘deteriorating’ state of the health system are some of the potential drivers of the exodus, according to the New World Wealth global analytics firm.

Britain lost a net 10,800 millionaires in 2024, while the figure was 4,200 in 2023. Only China lost more wealthy residents in that period.

The UK also lost 16,500 millionaires to migration from 2017 to 2023, which included Brexit and the pandemic, the figures say.

Dubai is among the top destination cities for millionaires leaving the UK, along with Paris, Amsterdam, Monaco, Geneva, Sydney, and Singapore. Florida, the Algarve, Malta, and the Italian Riviera are also attractive as retirement hotspots.

But while moving from Britain to Dubai has been a growing trend in recent years, it has also been claimed in recent months that UK expats are being priced out by Russians.

Since 2022, Russian nationals have bought up £4.8 billion in properties in Dubai that are either existing or being developed, according to economists with the EU Tax Observatory and Norway’s Centre for Tax Research.

Mona Jalota, founder of Krypton Global Real Estate, said last September that there had been a rise in British expats looking at moving out of the city for a cheaper property then commuting in.

She told the Telegraph: ‘Every time there is a global or political crisis, Dubai continues to be a safe place to invest in, hence the continuous demand keeps the prices being pushed up.

Shruti Krishnan, from White Window Real Estate, added: ‘Most of the Russian market is purchasing and in areas that give them really high rental so because of that the prices have gone up a lot.

‘They’re doing cash purchases so what happens is, they will buy the property in cash and when that happens the sale is faster and the sellers are happy, so you see different sellers asking for cash-only sales, especially rising since the war.’

Last May, MailOnline featured the story of a Catherine Earl who left university in Sheffield before landing a low-paid job in recruitment at Boots in Nottingham.

People watch Rory McIlroy tee off at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai on January 19

People watch Rory McIlroy tee off at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai on January 19

Fireworks explode at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, in Dubai on January 1, 2025

Fireworks explode at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, in Dubai on January 1, 2025

Eleven years later, the 33-year-old now earns more than £200,000 a year, jetting around Dubai harbour in a speedboat and sipping cocktails in exclusive bars.

She said: ‘I moved to Dubai for the sun. I was literally getting out of bed in the dark and walking 20 minutes to work in the cold. Now it’s sunny every day and I feel motivated because Dubai is such a nice place to live.’

Ms Earl featured in a Channel 4 series called ‘Dubai: Buying The Dream’ which took viewers behind the scenes at British agency Betterhomes as they compete to close deals with super-rich clients on a portfolio of stunning properties.

But the UAE is also known for its ultra-strict laws, with an 18-year-old British man sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail last month for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, was with his parents in the UAE from the end of August when a ‘holiday romance blossomed’ with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, the campaign group Detained in Dubai previously said.

After returning to the UK and seeing pictures and chats, the girl’s mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Mr Fakana at his hotel, it is alleged.

UK consular officials are said to be in regular contact with Mr Fakana, his family and his legal team, but the Government is not able to interfere in the judicial system.

Have you moved from the UK for Dubai? Email: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk