Page 17 | I live in Dubai, ask me anything

britindubai · 2026-10-20T05:34:06+00:00

Ask away, I’ll give you my honest thoughts and opinions

WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady · 20/10/2026 12:30

Do you think that the UK should abolish income tax?

Gloriia · 20/10/2026 12:31

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:28

Ever, I’m mid 30s

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What if you and hubby split? Great if you're independent financially but if you're so well off it begs the question why you're over in Dubai tax dodging for 5yrs?

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:33

cardibach · 20/10/2026 12:28

Did you work in the U.K.?
if so, do you think you’ll be able to get your career back at the same level after 6 years away?

(Incidentally, on something you said in an earlier post - nobody has 50% of their income taken in tax in the U.K. I know cliff edges create some imbalances, but never to the point of 50%)

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I didn’t work in the UK, not since having children. I have no desire to return to work.

Ok it’s 45% plus NI on top takes it close, I was rounding up lol

OP posts:

therockingbird · 20/10/2026 12:34

Do they still have the bars with free drinks on Wednesday evening so all the expats can go out and grab a drunken girl.. are there still calling cards strewn across the pavements down side walks from the night before.. I lived there with my two young children for a while - I can see the attraction for cash hungry youngsters and fat bald disgusting men. It’s the seediest place I’ve ever been to!

BIossomtoes · 20/10/2026 12:35

I can’t get my head round someone who thinks they’re financially savvy planning never to work again in their mid 30s and leaving a house empty for most of the year.

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:35

Gloriia · 20/10/2026 12:31

What if you and hubby split? Great if you're independent financially but if you're so well off it begs the question why you're over in Dubai tax dodging for 5yrs?

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We won’t split but we will equally be fine financially if that happened.

why not get to keep all of the hard earned cash and invest it. Money make money

OP posts:

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:35

BIossomtoes · 20/10/2026 12:35

I can’t get my head round someone who thinks they’re financially savvy planning never to work again in their mid 30s and leaving a house empty for most of the year.

Just saying it as it is, people asked and I answered.

OP posts:

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:36

therockingbird · 20/10/2026 12:34

Do they still have the bars with free drinks on Wednesday evening so all the expats can go out and grab a drunken girl.. are there still calling cards strewn across the pavements down side walks from the night before.. I lived there with my two young children for a while - I can see the attraction for cash hungry youngsters and fat bald disgusting men. It’s the seediest place I’ve ever been to!

Never seen this but that’s not what I get up to in the evenings

OP posts:

BIossomtoes · 20/10/2026 12:37

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:35

Just saying it as it is, people asked and I answered.

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I know. And I’m just saying that nobody who valued money as highly as you say you do would do those things. After all, no amount of money is ever enough, right?

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:38

DorsetKnobBiscuit · 20/10/2026 12:30

Is your partner able to take time off to return to the UK?
Do you get homesick?
Will you come home for Christmas?

He can take time off and work some of it too as he has offices globally.

I don’t get homesick as we spend most of summer in the UK, and yes we will be in the UK for Christmas

OP posts:

WinterAfternoons · 20/10/2026 12:38

PistachioTiramisu · 20/10/2026 12:13

Poor OP - she came on to answer questions about Dubai and has roundly been criticised and laughed at. I praise her and her family for having the gumption to try to make something of themselves and earn as much money as they can in a different country. I have been to Dubai on many occasions and love the place. Good for you, OP!

Yes, moving to a superficially Western-friendly dictatorship in a geopolitical hotspot next door to the Straits of Hormuz during a war in the ME in which the UAE has been an Iranian target certainly requires something. Not sure I’d call, it ‘gumption’, though.

twolattes · 20/10/2026 12:38

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:22

Haha ok, I think you would weep a little if you saw my bank balance.

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As an expat too I cringe when I see replies like this. We’re not all like this I promise Mumsnet !

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:38

BIossomtoes · 20/10/2026 12:37

I know. And I’m just saying that nobody who valued money as highly as you say you do would do those things. After all, no amount of money is ever enough, right?

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ah I see yes,

for sure the more you have the more you want

OP posts:

Notonthestairs · 20/10/2026 12:40

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:33

I didn’t work in the UK, not since having children. I have no desire to return to work.

Ok it’s 45% plus NI on top takes it close, I was rounding up lol

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This makes no sense, you claimed to have paid more in income tax than most people would earn in a life time. Did you mean your husband?

Yetanotherone12 · 20/10/2026 12:40

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:33

I didn’t work in the UK, not since having children. I have no desire to return to work.

Ok it’s 45% plus NI on top takes it close, I was rounding up lol

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If you aren’t working and didn’t work, how are you paying 45% tax?

you intend not to work on your return, how does that make you better than anyone else not paying into the system.

Moulook31 · 20/10/2026 12:40

Newusername0 · 20/10/2026 09:01

I’d assume she’s living, supporting and paying tax in a country that doesn’t torture and murder homosexuals. Like many on this thread…
What are you doing about it?

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I have homosexual friends happily living and working in Dubai e.g. my hairdresser and my work colleagues. I haven’t heard of anyone being tortured and murdered by the state for being homosexuals. Maybe I have missed out on this news lately.

twolattes · 20/10/2026 12:41

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:07

Thats a sweeping statement, you underestimate our wealth and lifestyle

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Good Lord - not all expats feel the need to adopt this position of superiority. I’m not sure you need to accuse people back home of underestimating your wealth ! Good Lord have some humility ..

UncannyToad · 20/10/2026 12:42

You’re doing well OP!
my questions are (hopefully) different and a bit lighter.
You mentioned green spaces and wildlife. Tell me more! I went a couple of decades ago and it was very ‘desert’.
Also, with schooling, which I understand is a bit cutthroat there - as in, oversubscribed? Are your kids going to do the English curriculum or the IB?

AtIusvue · 20/10/2026 12:42

Thing is, the kids will start to get embarrassed that clearly they don’t have the same lifestyle as their friends.

Having the mother clean the home is just not done in Dubai.

Gloriia · 20/10/2026 12:42

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:35

We won’t split but we will equally be fine financially if that happened.

why not get to keep all of the hard earned cash and invest it. Money make money

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No one plans to split, it sadly happens quite frequently. To be in your 30s reliant on a tax dodging dh would not seem the best long term plan.

Look, it's great that you're happy and loving it. Just be cautious! Things change, eg people have affairs. Don't leave yourself high and dry career wise.

NowSober · 20/10/2026 12:43

Gloriia · 20/10/2026 09:57

So what happens when you're in the UK on hol and need a doctor do you pay privately? What about A&E as there obviously isn't a private service.

When I was young and stupid I worked in the ME, saved up for a house etc. It was only later I regretted my tax dodging life. Tax free but obviously using all services when home.

Imo when in ME countries I think ex pats should have to pay some kind of insurance in case they need A&E or whatever when in the UK, do you agree?

As an aside Dubai is not safe. Muggings etc low as penalties are severe but if you upset the wrong person you'd get kicked out. Not sure if all the bling is worth that very insecure and superficial existence tbh.

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So what happens when you're in the UK on hol and need a doctor do you pay privately? What about A&E as there obviously isn't a private service.

Primary care in the NHS is free to all whether they are resident in the UK or not. This includes GPs, A&E, dentists etc Secondary care i.e. inpatient admission or outpatient attendance is free to all legal UK residents plus those on a visa paying Immigration Health Surcharge but chargeable to everyone else.

If the OP needed hospital admission it would presumably be paid for by travel insurance.

BIossomtoes · 20/10/2026 12:44

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:38

ah I see yes,

for sure the more you have the more you want

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But not enough to work for it?

cardibach · 20/10/2026 12:45

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:33

I didn’t work in the UK, not since having children. I have no desire to return to work.

Ok it’s 45% plus NI on top takes it close, I was rounding up lol

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Nope, it’s 45% on the stuff over that threshold. And if you aren’t working you won’t pay income tax anyway.
Do you pay into a pension?
Do you realise that, however much pressure there may be on public services in the U.K., your tax paid for lots of things you did get benefit from - roads, police, military and on and on…

OhTheCowsInTheMeadowGoMoo · 20/10/2026 12:45

britindubai · 20/10/2026 07:35

The UAE is a Muslim country, why on earth would they support something that goes against their religion?

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That's not answering the question though.
It would be good to know your thoughts on what was asked.

toiletpaperthief · 20/10/2026 12:46

britindubai · 20/10/2026 12:35

We won’t split but we will equally be fine financially if that happened.

why not get to keep all of the hard earned cash and invest it. Money make money

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You mean hubby's money, unless you have a separate bank account under your name were you have managed to squirrel all the money and if that's the case tap yourself in the shoulder and I congratulate you.

The phrase "A man is never a plan" comes to mind. This said it sounds like you might come from old money and are already wealthy yourself and in that case tap yourself in the shoulder again (this is just me being jealous). Do take a look at Dubai divorce laws because if worse comes to worse you and your children might be better of with the UK divorce laws.