1st June 2026 is a significant day for UAE laws. Several important changes are coming into force, and if you live or work here, some of these will affect you directly.
This article is an easy-to-follow summary so you can keep up to date.
This article is designed to be a brief guide to the taxes that apply to UK property, all in one place. This is written specifically for the benefit of non-residents of the UK.
I have covered this topic before but tax rules change regularly and it is important that we keep up to date. This article is corect as at April 2026.
You may not be living in the UK, or be “UK resident for tax purposes” but that does not mean you do not have a liability to certain UK taxes.
There are various taxes that apply with in relation to the ownership of UK property and an overview of each of the main ones is set out below.
For those of us in the Middle East our thoughts are understandably on issues closer to our current homes at this time but this still has relevance to UK nationals and those with assets in the UK.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the RT Hon Rachel Reeves, has shared her update on the UK economy – the Spring Statement. This is not a Budget, but an update, a forecast statement.
It covers the latest estimates for growth, unemployment, inflation, government spending and income from taxation has been published by The Office for Budget Responsibility.
Think of if as a bit of report card and some qualified predictions.
Following every Budget or Statement, I write an article to give you a concise overview of some of the main points, with particular reference to any changes that have major relevance to those living outside of the UK, and especially in the GCC. Quick, easy to follow, and informative
The UK press will cover many points in detail but much of it will not be directly relevant to expats so i alsoway write someitnung for us, although this has little of direct relevane to non-residents.
A change in UAE law affects expats who hold bank accounts, property, or other assets in the UAE.
I have written about the many reasons why you need a Will in the past (see 15 reasons here) but this is something new.
If you pass away without a registered Will, your assets are now classified as “unassigned.”
Here we go again! This is a widely-anticipated Budget following weeks of media speculation.
I think we are all a bit fed up of the “leaks” and media briefings that are the hallmark of all Budgets in the past few years. It is also very unprofessional that The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) unexpectedly published its growth forecast ahead of the Chancellor’s statement. This contains market sensitive information so let’s hope there is an enquiry and action
The UK media frenzy and contact conjecture really helps no one. A little more decorum all round might be nice.
Following every Budget or Statement, I write an article to give you a concise overview of some of the main points, with particular reference to any changes that have major relevance to those living outside of the UK, and especially in the GCC.
The UK press will cover many points in detail but much of it will not be directly relevant to expats, to people who are no longer tax resident in the UK, so my summaries focus on the points that will be most relevant to us.
We all know that we need to plan for our future but few of us want to contemplate getting older so it is easy to keep putting off the topic. The fact is that planning for retirement is one of the most important financial steps you’ll ever take. Despite good intentions, many people fall into common traps that can delay or even totally derail their retirement goals.
These mistakes may seem small now, but over time, they could cost you a huge amount of money; tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds or dollars.
Here are 7 retirement planning mistakes you should avoid, with action points.
I am currently helping out someone in a tragic situation. Gemma (not her real name) is having to deal with a legal and financial nightmare.
Her husband died in an accident a couple of months ago, leaving her with two young children.
Apparently, they had said in passing that they needed to get their family finances sorted, to get wills and some life insurance, but they never got around to it.
Now she has to deal with the mess left behind and needs to support herself and two children on one income.
It is going to be hard.
But it didn’t need to be this way.
This was not a Budget according to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, but rather a forecast statement so we were not expecting much in the way of announcements.
It was information about the financial balance sheet of the UK.
Following every Budget or Statement, I write an article to give you a concise overview of some of the main points, with particular reference to any changes that have particular relevance to those living outside of the UK, and especially in the GCC.
The British press will cover many points in detail but much of it will not be directly relevant to those of us who do not live in the UK so this article focuses on the issues that will be of most interest to us.
This is the first UK Budget by a Labour government since 2010, and the first one from a woman Chancellor of the Exchequer in Rachel Reeves. Considering the role has existed for 800 years, this is a significant moment for representation in politics.
Will this Budget be a defining moment for the new Labour UK Government? This is was never going to be an easy Budget with giveaways and we all knew that. It was claimed to be a budget for the average working person and it has largely met that brief, although some will not be pleased with certain announcements.
Following every Budget or Statement, I write an article to give you a concise overview of some of the main points, with particular reference to any changes that have major relevance to those living outside of the UK, and 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 most relevant to us.
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.