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.

Why not leave for a more moral country like Poland? The abortion laws are terrible atm and gay people need more rights. But at least no porta potties, exploited migrant workers, Sudan genocide facilitation or imprisoned princesses.

Or Czech Republic. Lithuania is also very nice.

Not to mention the disgusting way the ruling family treat their princesses....

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.newyorker.com/the-runaway-princesses&ved=2ahUKEwjc-9a-g-iQAxVgQUEAHdaKHtEQFnoECBAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2DRw5ySs6XVR1mSlQatUqd

It's the eventuality if you refuse to pay. So many just pay to not receive violence from the state

There's nothing classy about Dubai, so he'd fit right in. All fur coat and no knickers as they say. Vapid and materialistic.

I assume the reason he works and makes money is to provide for his family?

Disingenuous comparison. Dubai's alcohol laws are relaxed for expats but the punishment a Muslim would receive for violating them is much harsher than the US would carry out. (Flogging is on the cards, too, though rarely done)

Plus the US rarely deports for alcohol offences, whereas there's a much higher likelihood of an Expat being deported from Dubai for violating the alcohol laws.

This 100%. You want to take from the system without paying in?

Also, your husband sounds exactly like the type that would fit right in there.

It's interesting that you defend illegal tax avoidance so melodramatically, yet excuse Dubai's harsh laws for stuff like sex and alcohol as 'it's their country' (yes I know the Fakana law was repealed this year, the gay sex and adultery remain though).

We live there part time at the moment anyway. I’m fully aware what it’s like. It provides a wonderful lifestyle and they have a phenomenal health service compared to the NHS. I just wish we didn’t have to keep coming back to this shit hole.

If Westerners really think moving to the Middle East at a time of growing world political and climate instability is a good plan, then good luck to them. Don’t expect to be welcome anywhere in the world if your personal circumstances change and you end up being a burden yourself, though, because I doubt Dubai would be welcoming to you, then (why should it be - they trust Westerners as far as they can throw them), and the UK would rather not have you back at that point, either. When it comes down to it, economic migrants are only welcome for so long as they are wealthy, and we all know how the world views migrants when they no longer have wealth to offer - nobody wants them. I should imagine a woman moving to Dubai because of her wealthy husband is in a particularly vulnerable position, therefore.

Then I’d be fine paying what I pay now, but not any more.

Do you mind if I ask where in the USA? What city? If not, what state? Glad you're having fun there though. Always wondered what a life there is like.

Yeah, I get that totally. Someday I pray we get a non-wasteful government....

Why should he want to pay extortionate taxes here? Why should he risk his own money for little reward? Would you? Easy to be so generous with other people’s money.

The US health system is 'phenomenal'? Really? A lot of Americans whose health insurance claims are cruelly denied would not agree with you.

That's the issue, isn't it? High taxes are being wasted by the government on heaven knows what.

Family and children (education, upbringing) come FIRST. All else is secondary. This life is not a rehearsal. Years gone are years gone!! HTH.

That's not where the ignorance lies, but if we are to throw some whataboutism in there we can always bring to surface grooming gangs, knife crime, raising child poverty, general street safety ? Not going on about horrible conflicts - too many of them everywhere. That's not really helpful for OP though.

Are your kids male or female. Considering the atrocities against basic human rights, your kids will be walking on eggshells everywhere they go, male or female. Our freedom and theirs is restricted to within the compounds you will live in. They are teens/pre-teens and have you actually asked for their opinion in this whole matter.

Your dh will also need to be careful. It’s ok shagging around unmarried in the compounds but it only takes a pissed off husband to report him and he could be in hot water.

Op my dh is also in property and in top tax bracket. It won’t be Dubai for us though. What I CAN tell you is that he would never move without me.. and our kids are adults. Wouldn’t occur to him.

I agree crime and poverty are huge problems here.

However, there is a difference between the government facilitating criminal actions like exploitation of workers and depraved trafficking of women for porta potty parties. The slave labour does seem to be being reformed somewhat now, but porta potty parties have not been.

Arguably though the grooming gangs are a direct parallel to the porta potty parties, so I take your point in that regard...☹️

'Going on about horrible conflicts' - come on. The UK is NOT actively facilitating genocide the way the UAE is actively enabling the RSF's genocide in Sudan right now. The UK is not involved in any conflicts now apart from Ukraine, which has a strong claim to be a just war. Wars can't just be lumped together as "horrible conflicts', moral distinctions can and should be made.

I've noticed a lot of posters in this thread trying to equate Dubai's current and former actions with the UK's. I wonder why. 🤔

Exactly.

What an odd take.
Who will oay for the kids' education and healthcare if their father opts out of paying taxes?