Is it worth moving from the UK to Dubai?

Moving to Dubai has been a trend for a lot of people in the UK for the past decade - but why do people actually do it? And is it worth it? If you’re considering a move in the coming year, but are not sure whether to take the leap, then you have come to the right place.

Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and one of the most common destinations for UK Expats. To help you with your decision, it will be useful to learn what are the most common reasons people choose to move here. So here we go!

1 - Earn Tax-Free Income
A pretty obvious incentive is the fact that there’s no personal income tax in Dubai, which allows Expats to keep their full salary. In comparison to the UK, this can be about 30% higher, in some case, even more.

2 - Career Opportunities
Dubai has a thriving job market, particularly in sectors such as finance, real estate, construction, tourism, and technology. Most multinational companies with a presence in the Middle East choose to have regional offices in Dubai. Although the competition to secure a role is high, job opportunities continue to grow as the city grows.

3 - High Standard of Living
Dubai is known for its luxurious lifestyle with high-quality amenities, modern infrastructure, and a variety of entertainment options, including world-class shopping malls, restaurants, and leisure activities. But make no mistake, having a pool and gym in your apartment is not only for the rich. It’s actually quite common across most building in the UAE, so what is perceived to be “luxurious” in the UK, is quite accessible in Dubai.

4 - Cultural Experience
Moving to Dubai provides you with a unique cultural experience. The city is home to a lot of people from different nationalities, making it the perfect melting pot. If you like to get to know people from all corners of the world, Dubai might be just the right city for you.

5 - Safety and Security
Dubai is SUPER safe. Some people joke about leaving their houses and cars unlocked, and don’t be too surprised if you actually see this. The city has very low crime rates and an overalll sense of safety, making it a particularly attractive destination for families as well.

6 - Climate
The UAE has clear sunny skies all year-round (so yeah… quite different from the UK). This on the one hand can be appealing for a change of scenary, but during the summer months it’s hard to step foot outside with temperatures going as high as 45 Degrees Celcius.

7 - Travel and Connectivity
Dubai’s strategic location in the world makes it a convenient travel hub, with easy access to Europe, Asia, and Africa. The city’s international airport is one of the busiest in the world, offering so many flight options. Most importantly, from London or Manchester, you can fly to Dubai on a direct connection for under 8 hours, with planes departing every day of the week both ways.

8 - Education and Healthcare
Dubai has a lot of high-quality international schools and world-class healthcare facilities, catering to all of your needs. Do note that there are no public schools nor a National Healthcare System (NHS), so you will need to have private insurance, and if you have kids, please account for an extra cost per month for enrolling them in a school. You can learn more about the Cost Of Living in Dubai here.

9 - Real Estate Investment
The real estate market in Dubai has been booming for about a decade. There’s a lot of investment opportunities, from luxurious apartments to large villas, often with attractive financing options for Expats. So if you move to Dubai and purchase a house, it may be that its value goes up significantly over time.

10 - Events and Attractions
The UAE is the place to be when it comes to international events, exhibitions, and sports tournaments, such as the F1 Final Race, UFC, NBA Pre-season as well as stand up comedy shows, concerts and much more. Safe to say there’s a lot to do in the country and it’s rare to hear anyone saying they’re bored.

If you’re considering moving to Dubai from the UK, a good place to start is to Sign up to Matutto for free. You will be able to access resources such as how much the city costs to live in, what schools there are available, what documents you need to be able to drive and much more.