Author Archives: FinancialUAE

About FinancialUAE

A qualified and experienced Independent Financial Adviser based in Dubai, UAE. Professional and ethical. Freelance writer on personal financial issues & the On Your Side column in The National. Founder of Facebook group British Expats Dubai. Senior Partner at Holborn Assets LLC, Dubai, UAE.

Living in the UAE. 10 major money mistakes you want to avoid

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Moving to the UAE is a big change. Living in the UAE, or even the wider GCC, is not quite like life elsewhere.

It is not uncommon for expats for make a few financial mistakes but proper planning, some research, and the right advice will make for a better experience, and a better life generally.

This article has a list of the most common errors and while some may seem obvious, they are all made regularly. Knowledge is power so have a read and make sure you aren’t making mistakes that you could easily avoid.

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Need to know: UK Property Taxes

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This article has been superseded, Please see this revised one, published 21st April 2026

Need to Know: UK Property Taxes

To arrange a discussion about investing in UK property, taxation, or on any aspect of your personal financial planning, please email me at keren@holbornassets.com or use this contact form

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Most meetings take place over Zoom which is great for everyone’s time management and sheer convenience.

I write articles such as this one as part of the holistic personal financial planning service and that I provide to expats in the UAE and wider GCC, and the general consumer, financial and legal information that I provide in The National newspaper, on radio, in other media, and on the Facebook group British Expats Dubai &UAE.

Serious topics, all the facts, friendly conversation.

Please take a look at the other useful articles on this website.

 

15 reasons why you need a will

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Arranging suitable wills is an important part of financial planning and one that is too often overlooked or not addressed as it seems complicated – but can be much easier to organise than you might think.

Wills are important and if you don’t have one this is something you need to address.

Here are 15 reasons why you need a will:

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Moving from the UAE to the UK? You need a financial exit plan.

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When you relocate from one country to another there is a great deal you need to think about. This includes the practical problems of shipping your possessions, finding a place to live, finding new schools for children, new employment and so on.

No doubt you will have lists of things to do but one area that is often overlooked is the financial side. It may not be exciting but you need to be aware of these issues to avoid any nasty surprise tax bills, especially in respect of UAE income or offshore investments.

Getting it right will save you money. Getting it wrong can be expensive.

I provide an exit planning service for people relocating to the UK and this professional service, with a personalised advice and a written report you can refer back to, can save you both money and headaches.

I also offer an advisory service for people moving to the UAE from the UK that covers steps you need to take regarding banks and HMRC, letting out a property, taxation, what to do about your investments and pensions, the local laws and rules, issues about inheritance and protecting assets when in the UAE, and a wide range of general information gained from 18 years of living here.

This updated article is about some of the topics that you need to consider when you leave the UAE to move to the UK:

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Financial Tips for Parents

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When you have children, you get lots of advice and tips from everyone but one area that tends to be overlooked is the financial aspect.

In the excitement of impending parenthood, or the crazy first few months – and years – you may never get around to taking some important financial steps. It’s too easy to forget this essential topic so this article is designed to be a useful guide to some of the issues you need to consider.

Multiple surveys have put the cost of raising a child at eye-watering levels over their first 18 years and expats working in the UAE have the added cost of education and medical bills to contend with.

Factor in university or college costs and the fact that many young adults may not be fully financially independent until closer to age 25, and you can see just how important it is to plan sensibly.

Let’s look at some of the financial steps you need to consider.

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UK Budget March 2024 – a summary for GCC expats

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Another Spring, another UK Budget, but what will it really mean for you?

Following every Budget or Statement, I write an article to give people who are not resident in the UK a concise overview of some of the main points, with particular reference to any changes that have relevance to those of us living outside of the UK, especially in the GCC.

The UK press will cover many points in detail but much of it will not be directly relevant to expats so this article focuses on the points that will be of most interest.

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Want to become a US citizen? Want a US Green Card? Want to live & work in the USA?

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You could become a permanent resident, leading to citizenship in just five years. You and you family can obtain US passports and live the American dream.

Join us for an online presentation on one of the most popular investment migration programmes in the world.

Thursday 15th February. 1pm UAE time.   

Link to register: Registration – US citizenship presentation

If you read this after the live presentation, get in touch with me for a copy of the recording.

Citizen by investment is a US Government approved investment migration scheme.

While you need to invest a significant sum up front, you could receive all of it back within five years.

With one of our investment schemes, you could even receive all money back in just three and a half years.

 

The EB5 schemes are not easy to navigate but that is where we come in. Our in-house experts will guide you through the process, liaise with the appropriate government departments, and be with you every step of the way until you receive your new USA passport.

We work with the US Immigration Fund (USIF) which assisted over 5,000 investors in arranging an EB5 visa. You need to work with an approved company to obtain these valuable visas.

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New Year, new financial you? 10 tips for getting on track in 2024

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Whether or not you make formal resolutions at the start of a year, I am willing to bet that you have certain hopes when it comes to your financial situation.

You may dream of retiring at age 55. Perhaps you want to buy a holiday home or an investment property? Do you want to take a year off to travel the world? Maybe you know you need to put a few things in place to get properly organised?

You need to take action to turn these hopes into reality.

Invariably we could all do a little better and a little focus rarely goes amiss. With that in mind here’s a list of 10 steps you can take to get yourself financially fitter in 2024.

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UK Autumn Statement November 2023 – a summary for expats

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Once again Jeremey Hunt, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, has delivered an Autumn Statement, this time with a claim that there would be 110 measures “to help grow the economy”. We will be the judge of that…

This article is a brief overview of some of the main points with particular reference to any cannouncements that have relevance to those living outside of the UK, and especially in the GCC.

The UK press will cover many points in detail but many of the points will not be directly relevant to expats so this article focuses on the points that will directly affect us.

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Want to be a global citizen? Want the freedom to live wherever you choose?

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Citizenship- or residency-by- investment could be the answer.

As the world, and where we can choose to live, is affected by events and economics, many people are considering alternative citizenship and places to live. The recent pandemic, wars, economic factors – all have affected how we see our futures. And where we want to live and retire.

It is not as easy as simply deciding you want to live in a certain country as obtaining residency and visas can be complex. The choices about where to live and work are restricted for most people and few nationalities have real freedom of movement.

Holding passports from certain countries is extremely limiting so you may like the option of obtaining better travel documents.

If you have passports from countries such as Pakistan, India, Lebanon, Egypt, and many other African countries to name just a few, you will know how difficult it can be to travel or live elsewhere.

People from developed countries would also often like the opportunity to live and work in other countries without restrictions.

The good news is that there are options where you can obtain both the right to live and work, as well as a citizenship.

We can offer a range of residency- and citizen-by-investment programmes which will give you the desired economic freedom and choice of where to live.

Info updated March 2025

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