0% Tax Setup: How UK HNWIs Are Moving Their Business to Dubai

Thinking of relocating your UK business to Dubai?

Here’s how high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are setting up clean, compliant 0% tax structures in the UAE — without triggering HMRC red flags or compromising control.

Quick Check: Is This You?

• You’re earning £500K–£10M+ through a UK Ltd or equivalent vehicle
• You’re paying 20–45% tax on income, dividends, or gains
• You want a smarter, legal structure to protect global profits
• You’ve heard “set up a UAE company” — but don’t want cookie-cutter advice
• You want a clean exit from UK tax, not just another admin cost

If this sounds familiar, you’re not looking for a license — you’re looking for leverage.

Why HNWIs Are Replatforming to Dubai in 2025

Dubai isn’t just tax-free — it’s strategically built for global operators:

• 0% income tax
• 0% capital gains tax
• 0% inheritance tax
• 100% foreign ownership
• Strong banking infrastructure (with private, institutional, and crypto-friendly options)
• Global credibility through DIFC, ADGM, and Big 4 audit pathways

But none of this works if you’re still a UK tax resident. That’s where structure and timing matter.

The Problem: UK Tax Doesn’t End Just Because You Left

We’ve seen it too often.

A founder sets up a Dubai entity — but:

• Keeps invoicing via UK Ltd
• Maintains UK ties (banking, clients, IP, team)
• Doesn’t pass the Statutory Residence Test (SRT)
• Still holds day-to-day control in the UK

Result? HMRC still sees them as UK-resident — and still taxable.

A UAE company alone doesn’t break your tax link to the UK.
You need to exit legally and structure the right way.

What a Proper 0% Setup Looks Like

We help clients engineer this the right way. Here’s what a clean transition involves:

1. Pass the Statutory Residence Test (SRT)

This is the legal bar HMRC uses to determine tax residency.

We map your exit timing, ties, and compliance — and coordinate with your UK accountant to avoid exposure.

Read More Related Topics → In our SRT Guide

2. Build the Right UAE Entity

Whether you’re:

• Running a service business
• Holding IP or brand assets
• Structuring global investments
• Managing crypto or digital revenue

We’ll choose the right jurisdiction (DIFC, ADGM, DMCC, RAK) and design the ownership chain to:

• Protect you legally
• Deliver full foreign control
• Comply with UAE Economic Substance rules
• Enable clean remittance and banking

3. Replatform Global Revenue

You’ll need to:

• Shift invoicing to your UAE company
• Move contracts and payments offshore
• Migrate client servicing and control outside the UK
• Set up UAE banking (business + private)

We guide you step by step — and work with your UK accountant to avoid remittance and UK control risks.

4. Wind Down UK Exposure (Cleanly)

This isn’t always a shutdown. Often, we help clients:

• Reduce UK Ltd to a dormant holding or IP shell
• Transfer operations to UAE
• Avoid exit charges or double taxation
• Retain UK credibility for local assets or clients — without tax ties

5. Big 4 Audit Coordination (For Premium Clients)

We offer annual audit setup with our Big 4 partners in Dubai — for clients who want:

• Enhanced banking legitimacy
• Institutional trust
• HMRC-defensible documentation
• Future-proofed cross-border operations

Real Case: “We Moved Our Consultancy to Dubai — and Cut £1.2M in Tax”

A husband-wife team ran a London-based consultancy with £4.6M annual revenue and 60% profit margins.

Their pain points:

• £1.2M+ annual tax drag
• UK Ltd as the billing entity
• Personal drawings exposed to UK tax

We helped them:

• Pass SRT and plan exit timing
• Set up a UAE freezone company with clean structure
• Shift client contracts and invoicing offshore
• Wind down their UK Ltd while retaining credibility
• Coordinate with their UK accountant for full compliance
• Implement Big 4 audit for added bank and investor trust

Today?

• 0% tax on profits
• Audit-ready books
• UAE residency for the full family
• UK tax net exited cleanly

Final Word — From Haseena

This isn’t about dodging tax.

It’s about understanding how the system works — and using it the right way.

Dubai offers a real chance to earn more, keep more, and simplify more — but only when your business and tax base are properly replatformed.

We work with HNWIs, founders, and global operators to move their business to Dubai — legally, cleanly, and built to last.

What’s Next?

Book a Private Setup Strategy Call — We’ll map your 0% tax transition
Read: How to Leave the UK Tax System Legally

Haseena from Dubai

A founder, a Dubai insider, globally seasoned. Writing to you from the city I’ve always called home — but now see with fresh eyes.