UK agency founder relocating to Dubai?
Specialist UK and UAE financial guidance for agency founders making the move. From statutory residence test to running a UK Ltd from Dubai. ICAEW qualified.
What we cover
Seven areas where a UK agency founder relocating to Dubai needs joined-up, specialist advice. Generalist accountants handle one or two of these. We handle all seven.
UK tax on leaving
Statutory residence test, split-year treatment, deemed domicile, exit charges. When does HMRC stop being interested in you?
Dubai entity & setup
Mainland vs free zone, IFZA vs JAFZA vs DMCC, golden visa eligibility, share capital, costs and timelines.
UAE tax (corporate + VAT)
9% corporate tax, small business relief, free zone qualifying income, VAT thresholds, designated zone implications.
Cross-border operations
Running a UK agency from Dubai, invoicing UK clients from UAE, VAT on cross-border services, IR35 from abroad.
Personal finance
UK pensions when non-resident, ISAs after leaving, selling UK property, dividends from a UK company while in Dubai.
Practical relocation
Cost of living, schools, healthcare, property purchase, banking. The non-tax decisions that still affect your finances.
Agency-specific migration
Transferring your UK agency, dual-entity structures, where your IP sits, what happens to your team, when to sell vs hold.
When in the journey do we help?
Pre-move planning, the move itself, and post-move operations. Each stage has different financial decisions and different lead times.
Pre-move planning
12-18 months before. Tax planning, entity structure, asset disposals, pension contributions. The decisions that set up the next 5 years.
The move itself
Statutory residence test timing, split-year treatment, registering in UAE, banking, golden visa. The mechanics of changing residence.
Post-move operations
Running your UK agency from Dubai, invoicing, VAT, contractor management, ongoing UK tax position, UK property + investments.
Book your relocation consultation
90 minutes with an ICAEW qualified accountant. We map your UK exit position, your UAE setup options and your agency's structure. You leave with a written plan. No obligation.
In the message field, please mention your target move date and your current agency size so we can prepare properly.
Frequently asked questions
Why use a UK accountant rather than a Dubai one?
Because most of the financial decisions that make or break a Dubai relocation for a UK agency founder are UK-side: statutory residence test, exit charges, what happens to your UK limited company, how UK dividends are taxed when you're non-resident, UK pension and ISA treatment. We handle the UK side and partner with Dubai-side advisors for UAE entity setup. You get one coordinated plan rather than two disconnected ones.
When should I start planning?
12-18 months before the move ideally. Statutory residence test timing, asset disposal sequencing, exit planning and entity restructuring all need lead time. We can still help if you're moving in 3 months, but the optimal tax positions usually require some forward planning.
Do I have to close my UK limited company?
No. Many agency founders keep their UK Ltd running while based in Dubai. That has specific tax implications (UK corporation tax still applies to UK-source income, dividend tax treatment changes for non-residents, etc.) but can be the right structure. We model it both ways and recommend based on your specific position.
Will I save tax overall?
Usually yes, sometimes significantly. Dubai has no personal income tax. UAE corporate tax is 9% (with reliefs that can bring it lower for small companies and qualifying free zone income). But you need to factor in the cost of becoming UK non-resident properly, UAE setup and licence costs, and the UK tax that may still apply to UK-source income. Net savings depend on your situation. We model it in pounds.
Can you advise on UAE-side tax?
We work to UK ICAEW standards and our regulated advice is UK-focused. For UAE corporate tax, VAT and licensing we partner with Dubai-based specialists who handle that side. You get a coordinated plan with one point of contact (us) and specialist UAE input where the rules require it.
Want the full picture first?
We are building a deep library of articles on every facet of UK → Dubai relocation for agency founders. Read first, talk later.
Browse the articles