Founder of UK inventory market trade strikes to Dubai after £10million payday as newest entrepreneur to depart Britain
The founder of a London stock market exchange has moved to Dubai as he joins the growing list of wealthy Brits fleeing to the Gulf.
Alasdair Haynes, who previously ran the Aquis Exchange, is leaving the capital just months after landing a £10m payday from the sale of his business to a Swiss rival.
The moves comes after Mr Hayns spent years championing the UK’s financial sector which he previously described as a ‘national asset’.
The 65-year-old founded Aquis in 2012 with the aim of targeting fast-growing businesses and in turn creating a ‘Nasdaq of Europe’ that could rival the London Stock Exchange.
He stepped down as chief executive in February citing health reasons.
Mr Haynes said: ‘Assuming a part-time role and relocating allowed me to not only source and prioritise treatment of my health conditions, but also to spend more time with my family, and closer to my wife’s family [who are based in Kazakhstan].
‘I continue to spend as much time as I am able to working on the vision and future for Aquis, which remains incredibly exciting under the strong leadership of the executive team.’
Tempted by Dubai’s offering of a luxury lifestyle with no income tax, Mr Haynes has joined the growing number of wealthy Brits who have quit the UK for the United Arab Emirates.
Alasdair Haynes, who previously ran the Aquis Exchange, is leaving London for Dubai just months after landing a £10m payday
Pictured: Dubai’s coastline. Tempted by Dubai’s offering of a luxury lifestyle with no income tax, Mr Haynes has joined the growing number of wealthy Brits who have quit the UK for the United Arab Emirates
This follows Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to tighten inheritance tax rules and abolish non-dom status.
Last month, the Russian-born British national Nikolay Storonsky moved to Dubai.
Mr Storonsky, the billionaire founder of fintech giant Revolut, has been a frequent critic of the business environment in Britain after regulators delayed his company receiving a UK banking license.
On Friday, it was revealed that the Labour peer Lord Stephen Carter of Barnes, the chief executive of FTSE 100 group Informa and a former Labour minister, had relocated from Britain to Dubai.
An Aquis spokesperson told the Daily Telegraph: ‘Alasdair stepped down as CEO of Aquis Exchange in February 2025 for health reasons.
‘He assumed the part-time and less demanding role of president, which has allowed Aquis to continue to benefit from his considerable expertise whilst also allowing Alasdair the time he needs for treatment and to spend time with family. Alasdair continues to travel to the UK as required in his capacity as president.’
