Brits are increasingly dreaming of leaving for Dubai after the Autumn Budget 2025, indicating that some are thinking of leaving the UK in response to the new tax landscape.
Research from Morta.com found that searches for “moving to Dubai” in the UK increased by 342%, and searches for “mansion tax” surged by 184% compared to last month, as high earners, business owners, and investors have been hit by increased anxiety.
Nathan Priestley, chief executive and founder of Priestley Group, said these searches should be viewed as “early warning signs” to policymakers.
He said: “As human emotion is highly sensitive when it comes to ownership, matters such as changes in real estate and/or property investment can be easily detected with sentiment.
“And in this case the sentiment is going at a rapid speed. A 342% increase in relocation-related searches is not just noise; it is a signal that confidence in investors is being shaken.
“I’m already seeing prime London sellers scramble to get to the bottom of the CGT and IHT changes before they bite, and mid-market landlords are liquidating entire portfolios. The banks I work with are stress-testing every new residential scheme against these tax hits, and the unfortunate result is that many are simply no longer viable.
“It is quite a brutal irony. The Treasury is seeking to raise around £30 billion, and by deterring mobile wealth and productive talent, it risks losing much more in lost stamp duty, CGT receipts, and entrepreneurial activity.
“Dubai is not winning because it is a paradise, but because the UK just made itself the most hostile high-tax jurisdiction in Europe for anybody who owns property or conducts a business.”
Dubai has no income tax, 9% corporation tax only on profits exceeding approximately $100,000, and long-term residency potential through the Golden Visa program.