Britons should feel right at home in this nation of expats, who benefit from breathtaking scenery and tax-free incomes.
United Arab Emirates is a nation of expats – in 2010 only about 16.5% of the 8.2 million people living there were Emiratis, while everyone else had adopted the country as their home. The majority of expats are Indians and Pakistanis, but the country is becoming increasingly popular with Brits.
Most of the UK expats living across the seven emirates that make up UAE are drawn to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
In recent years the numbers of UK expats moving to UEA have increased, and since 2007 more than 10,000 people a year have made the move. The Brits tend to be working there – in construction, banking, oil or tourism among other trades – and fewer than 700 people are drawing a UK state pension there.
Those who emigrate can enjoy beautiful beaches, a busy social life and the chance to explore a very different landscape to that from home. Life can be expensive, particularly in Abu Dhabi, but in some areas it is easy to achieve a high quality of life for less than in the UK – and because you are paying no tax more of your earnings are yours to spend.
