The Real Numbers in the UK — June 2025 Update

Tired of watching 50% of your earnings disappear to HMRC? For UK tax for high earners, the reality is stark: you’re not alone — and you do have options.

Let’s say you’re earning £1–2M+ per year.
Here’s what you’re facing now:

• 40–45% income tax + national insurance
• 25% corporate tax on profits above £250K (19% below £50K, with a sliding scale in between)
• Capital Gains Tax: 24% on investment gains (up from 20% last year)
• Non-dom status abolished (April 2025) — stricter remittance rules apply
• Inheritance tax: Still 40% over £325K, with limited reliefs

Frozen thresholds + stealth taxes = effective tax rates now topping 50–55%, even for efficient owners.

Compare That to Dubai (2025 Edition)

Here’s what Dubai offers — legally:

• 0% personal income tax
• 0% capital gains tax
• 0% corporate tax (in qualifying Free Zones)
• 9% corporate tax (only if applicable — explained below)
• 5% VAT only
• 0% inheritance/wealth/remittance taxes

This means 0% income tax Dubai is achievable for compliant residents. But it requires clean structuring, correct residency, and ongoing compliance. No shortcuts. Just clarity.

Dubai Free Zone Company Setup: Strategic Simplicity

Dubai Free Zones allow:

• 100% foreign ownership
• 0% corporate tax if you qualify as a Free Zone Person (i.e., international revenue, local substance, compliant filing)
• Fast setup, full repatriation of capital, and streamlined admin

Most of our clients running:

• Remote consulting or coaching
• SaaS or software companies
• Marketing & creator businesses
• Investment holding entities

…qualify for Free Zone benefits with no tax due in the UK or UAE. This makes it practical to move UK business to Dubai legally.

Dubai Mainland License: Serving UAE Clients

If you want to:

• Open a physical office in Dubai
• Serve clients in the UAE or GCC
• Employ local staff

Then you’ll need a Mainland license. You’ll pay 9% corporate tax on profits over AED 375,000 (~£80K) — but still:

• 0% income tax
• 0% on dividends
• No social contributions or municipal tax
• Since 2021, even Mainland companies offer 100% foreign ownership.
• Many HNWIs start with a Free Zone structure and expand to Mainland only if the business model calls for it.

Residency & Tax Status

When you own a UAE company, you can apply for a UAE investor visa, giving you Dubai tax residency and access to UAE’s banking & investment infrastructure. You benefit from 0% tax on global income and no remittance rules.

Once your UK tax residency ends (your UK tax exit strategy through the SRT), you:

• Avoid UK income tax, capital gains, and dividend tax
• Shield family wealth and avoid UK inheritance tax
• Move money freely between jurisdictions

Not a Loophole. A Structure.

There’s no trickery here. But there is precision.
You must meet:

• Free zone compliance Dubai rules (substance, record-keeping, returns)
• Economic substance requirements
• OECD BEPS & global minimum tax if part of a multinational group

But once you’re compliant? You gain clarity, control, and a legal tax structure UAE approach that works globally.

Who This Works For

This isn’t just for startups. It’s built for:

• 7–8 figure earners
• Remote-first founders
• Investment-holding entrepreneurs
• Business owners tired of tax friction, instability, and government overreach

If you’re earning well, operating globally, and want legal optimisation — not evasion — this is for you.

Your Next Moves — Step by Step

• Choose Your Structure: Free Zone for 0% tax; Mainland (9%) if serving the UAE.
• Establish Substance: Local office, staff contracts, bookkeeping.
• Transfer Residency: UAE investor visa; exit UK tax residency.
• Maintain Compliance: File tax returns, meet ESR, renew licenses.
• Grow Globally: Use UAE as your tax-efficient home base. This is the core of strategic tax planning Dubai.

Final Word — From Haseena (Founder, Insider, From Dubai)

I didn’t relocate here for the perks.
I was born here. Raised here.
I watched Dubai grow from a desert outpost to a world-stage player — because this city designs for ambition.

After a decade abroad in the UK, I saw the cracks:
The burden. The drift. The quiet cost of staying still.

So I came home — with insight, not nostalgia.
Now I help people like you — serious business owners, families building real wealth — make the shift cleanly, legally, strategically.

Because clarity isn’t a luxury. It’s the foundation for momentum.
And if you’re ready for structure, control, and jurisdictional power — not chaos, uncertainty, or catch-up —

Let’s talk.

Your Next Steps

• Book a Strategic Clarity Call — 20 minutes. No fluff. Just facts and feasibility.
• Or comment “SHIFT” for our free guide: Optimising UK Wealth in 2025: The Dubai Blueprint

We only onboard 5 clients per month. Because quality trumps scale.

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.