‘I moved to Dubai to avoid paying tax but had to leave after realising huge problem’

Staff
By Staff

A YouTuber who is originally from the UK moved to Dubai for two years to “avoid paying tax” – but he returned home saying there were “more cons than pros” to living in the city

This high angle view features the Dubai International Financial Centre along Sheikh Zayed Road. The area is lined with modern skyscrapers with office, residential and hotel towers.
A Brit has revealed how he returned to the UK after discovering a major problem with Dubai (Image: Michael Lee via Getty Images)

A British YouTuber who relocated to Dubai has packed up and returned to the UK after two years, citing one significant issue with life in the Gulf state.

YouTuber Charlie Morgan initially moved to Dubai to “avoid paying tax”, but returned home to Britain earlier this year after concluding there were “more cons than pros” to living in the city.

Whilst acknowledging that most people view Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, as “this big shiny utopia”, Charlie highlighted one of the major drawbacks of the Middle Eastern destination.

He revealed that “the real primary reason” he decided to abandon his Dubai lifestyle. He said: “It’s impossible to emotionally unpack.”

Picture of the Beach near Dubai Marina with view on the skyline.
Many Brits have moved to Dubai in recent years(Image: Marius Gomes via Getty Images)

He continued: “Living in Dubai feels like you’re on holiday or in an Airbnb because in order for you to have a healthy life, you need to have people that you love and you need to have a social life and you need to have a love life, a family life.”

Charlie identified one crucial weakness of the city: “The issue with Dubai is everyone plans to leave. It’s a revolving door of a city which means that people come and people leave. And 90%, 95% of the people that I knew in Dubai did not plan on staying there for the long term.”

Stunning twilight view displaying the intricate network of Sheikh Zayed Road and the iconic Dubai skyline illuminated against the evening sky. Tall skyscrapers and city lights create a vibrant, modern scene.
Charlie said he had originally been attracted to the difference in Dubai’s taxation rules(Image: Nikada via Getty Images)

While Charlie highlighted one specific disadvantage of living in the sun-drenched climate of Dubai, there are also numerous other considerations that British expats recommend weighing up when relocating to the Middle Eastern nation. The first thing Brits will notice when they step foot in Dubai is the drastic change in temperature.

In the scorching months of July and August, it’s not unusual for temperatures to rocket past 40C, while during the cooler months of November and December, it can still linger around the mid-20s.

Despite significant differences in climate, taxation, and culture between Dubai and the UK, the UAE city has become an increasingly appealing option for Brits seeking a new life abroad.

Sunset view of JBR beach next to Palm Jumeirah with Burj Al Arab in background
Dubai boasts an impressive skyline(Image: Captured Blinks Photography via Getty Images)

Recent estimates show a massive surge in the number of UK nationals moving to Dubai in recent years.

In 2021, it’s estimated that 30,000 Brits packed their bags for Dubai, with that figure rising to 35,000 a year later, and hitting 40,000 in 2023. It’s thought that a whopping 240,000 Brits now call the UAE city home.

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