Husband wants to move to dubai

[Dilemma87]

My husband is a businessman in property and with the recent proposed tax changes and new rules putting limits on how long he can keep doing things from the UK, he’s now saying he needs to move to Dubai and operate from there.

We actually have some friends there, and his business partner is already based out there, so on paper it all sounds easy enough. His plan is to buy a second property in Dubai and move there by himself, while I stay here with the kids.

The problem is, the children are really settled one’s in high school and the other is due to start soon, so moving them just isn’t an option. He’s suggested that we (me and the kids) fly out to Dubai every school holiday to spend time with him.

The catch is, under his visa he can only be out of Dubai for 90 days a year, so he’d basically have to live there full-time.

AIBU to think this is just not going to work long-term? I can’t help but feel like this is the start of living completely separate lives.

And slave labour

There are no facts. They are just a load of opinion pieces. The UAE doesn’t have an armada going round the world rounding people up to take them back their country for indentured servitude. Thats a fact for you.

Because the stranger's husband would rather move to the other side of the world without his family than pay a bit more tax?

And then she won’t be able to bring her kids back to the U.K. when he fucks off with one of those female friends.

How are you thinking that your tax money only goes to certain things.

I did hear it for the first time today and it still means exactly the opposite.

To all those complaining about paying too much taxes: have you actually compared with other European countries? You have nothing to envy France, Germany, Sweden or Finland to just name a few. But if you only read the daily fail instead of looking up facts ofcourse you will get the impression that taxes are unreasonably high in the UK..

I think loopholes for tax avoidance should be dealt with

Yes, this is the issue really. It’s hard to know what is actually going on here.

If this is literally a case of man has 1 business in the UK, on which he pays UK tax no matter where he lives and a business in Dubai, on which he doesn’t pay tax if he lives in Dubai but does pay tax if he lives in the UK, I can understand the desire to live in Dubai from a purely financial perspective (ie putting aside ethical and moral issues). Fundamentally, that wouldn’t massively affect the amount of tax paid in the UK, as the tax would still be coming from the UK business. I don’t think that scenario is as morally reprehensible as people are making out on this thread.

But, if this is actually a way of reducing the amount of UK tax paid on UK interests then that is a completely different kettle of fish…

I do pay taxes thanks. Income tax as well as on savings interest and obviously VAT, fuel duty, road fund tax etc.
The rest of that is a bit incomprehensible. Especially the ‘I suffered’ bit. I haven’t suffered. What suffering do you think is going on?

Thats some imagination, right there. Is this a plot line for some soap or something.

Exactly. Sharia laws in Dubai and those apply to expats as well.

Who educated those people who make all that lovely money?

You need proper tax advice because I think he can only spend 16 days a year in the UK if he wants to be non-resident for tax purposes. Talk to a good tax lawyer.

Taxes are unreasonably high vs what people are getting back in return compared to these countries. In terms of quality of healthcare, childcare, schools and increasingly roads, police and even the foreign office

I mean I know someone who shifted from London to NYC (bulge bracket bank employee) due to the whole non-dom stuff.

Shame about the new mayor of NYC though, then again he can move to other cities in the USA

This was certainly the case til recently, OP, I would not begin to even think about Dubai til you have clarified the legal position for you and your children in the event of a divorce. I don't know what enjoying female friends means, but it doesn't sound good and your husband's enthusiasm for only being with you for part of the holidays and his female friends and his lack of interest in discussing this makes me think he has plans to either do what he likes when he gets there or to divorce possibly if it doesn't work out. I would stay realistic here, it doesn't sound like he's thinking through any good options for you.

I’ve paid my fair share. That’s how it works.
I'd have paid more if teachers’ wages hadn’t been eroded, of course.
And if people didn’t do the roles that don't pay much tax by your standards? What then?
edit: I haven’t always been paid as a public sector teacher.

They may have been educated abroad, or in private schools.

but sure, the PP contributed to the society by being a teacher. SO DID THE HIGH EARNERS.
so berating them is ridiculous

Exactly, people going on about this country going to the dogs, the state of attitudes towards women and minorities there. No fucking thanks. Can’t think of anywhere I’d less want to bring up kids.

Anecdotes aren't data.

Some facts for you.

The OP has said her husband “enjoys female friends”.

Should she wish to divorce him for indulging in female friends it will be very difficult for her to leave with her children.

https://www.kingsleynapley.co.uk/insights/blogs/family-law-blog/expat-divorce-in-dubai-the-challenges-of-child-relocation-and-navigating-uae-residency-visa-options

TBF she doesn’t have to. The OP’s husband seems far more concerned about saving money than keeping his family together. What a diamond.

so you don’t know how much the husband has actually paid up to now.

obviously what YOU paid is “fair share”, huh?
but what someone else has paid is automatically not a fair share because he’s considering moving out.
you just assume he hasn’t paid his fair share because of what, class hatred? Jealousy? Worry that you have to pay more taxes after high earners leave in droves?

I’ve taught in private schools for some of my career. Almost any qualified teacher teaching in the independent sector has been trained via the state system.

Im not berating high earners. I’m berating people trying to avoid paying their share.

Well not an armada, but there deceptive recruitment practices, the kafala system, confiscation of passports, lies about wages, no right of recourse, no way out.

What you call opinion pieces are documents by organisatios such as Amnesty International, not something from page 7 of the daily mail.

You can keep deceiving yourself about this, but you can't deceive other people.