UK & UAE Tax
Non-residency, the Statutory Residence Test, split-year, the treaty and UAE corporate tax.
The tax side is where a Dubai move is won or lost. These guides cover breaking UK tax residency under the Statutory Residence Test, split-year treatment in your departure year, the UK–UAE double tax treaty, what stays UK-taxable after you leave (rent, pensions), and how UAE corporate tax and VAT actually work.
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Telling HMRC you've left: the P85 and what else to do
File the P85 online to claim a tax refund and flag your departure to HMRC. The catch: it doesn't trigger non-residency, the Statutory Residence Test does that.
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Do I still need to file a UK tax return after leaving?
You may still need to file for the year you left, and sometimes beyond. The catch: HMRC doesn't always tell you. Here's when the obligation continues.
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The UAE Tax Residency Certificate: what it is and how UK leavers get one
A UAE Tax Residency Certificate is the document that proves your tax home is now the UAE. Here is what it is, why it matters when you leave the UK, and how to get one.
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Setting up a family office in Dubai: is it right for you?
Dubai has become one of the main bases for family offices, thanks to zero personal tax and dedicated DIFC and ADGM frameworks. Here is what a family office actually is, who it suits, and why your UK tax position has to come first.
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How is my UK rental income taxed once I live in Dubai?
If you've moved to Dubai but still own UK property, your rental income remains taxable in the UK, even with no UAE personal income tax. Here's how the rules work.
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How many days can I spend in the UK after I leave? As few as 15
For many leavers it's as few as 15 days a year, set by your UK ties. Here's how the Statutory Residence Test decides your limit, and why one day over can cost you the whole tax year.
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How UK residents access UAE company profits tax-efficiently
A plain guide to the main ways a UAE company's profits can be extracted by its UK-resident owner, and what UK tax applies at each stage.
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UK non-dom changes and moving to Dubai: where things stand
The UK's non-dom regime has been fundamentally restructured. Here's what changed, what it means for people who have moved to Dubai, and where the planning opportunities now lie.
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Do I pay UK capital gains tax if I sell up after moving?
Whether you pay UK capital gains tax after leaving the UK depends on when you became non-resident and whether the temporary non-residence rules apply. Here is how it works.
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Does a Golden Visa make your income tax-free? The myth explained
A UAE Golden Visa grants long-term residency, it does not, by itself, make your income tax-free. Here is what actually determines your tax position when you move to Dubai.
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Is there a UK exit tax when you move to Dubai?
The UK has no general exit tax on unrealised gains when you emigrate, but the temporary non-residence rule can still catch you, and an exit tax has been proposed. Here's where things actually stand for founders planning a Dubai move.
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Is it worth moving to Dubai for tax?
Dubai's 0% personal income tax is real. Whether a move actually makes financial sense for you depends on much more than the headline rate, here's the honest picture.
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Do I still pay UK tax after moving to Dubai?
Moving to Dubai doesn't switch off your UK tax bill on its own. What matters is when you stop being UK-resident, decided by the Statutory Residence Test, not your flight date.
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The Statutory Residence Test, explained for a Dubai move
The SRT is how HMRC decides whether you're still UK tax resident. Here's how its three parts work, and why the 'ties' test is the one that catches Dubai movers out.
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Is there really no income tax in Dubai?
Is Dubai tax free? It genuinely has no personal income tax, but that isn't the whole picture. Here's what tax you do pay in Dubai, and why your UK tax position still needs sorting.
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Does the UK–UAE double tax treaty stop double taxation?
What the UK–UAE double taxation agreement does and doesn't do, and why, for most people moving to Dubai, breaking UK residency cleanly matters more than the treaty itself.
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How does split-year treatment work when moving to Dubai?
Split-year treatment can stop you being taxed as UK-resident for the whole tax year you leave for Dubai. Here's what it is, the conditions, and why it's so easy to get wrong.