People living in the Middle East

I have travelled and lived abroad including living in Damascus. Probably partly being the eldest in my family, and being a lecturer I have always been someone who takes care and checks on thing, before following any new plans. So before I commited to moving I made sure that I had enough money to pay a full price ticket to get home, and also paid I think it was called class c, where I paid national insurance to remain up to date , which I continued to pay for the whole time I was abroad - which of course meant that I was receiving no medical or dental attention or any other things whilst I was paying in this money.

There are many reasons people go to work abroad and I first went abroad not to get out of paying tax or anything else, but to save money to allow me to buy a house when I returned. I saved up every penny I could and did without many other things to allow me to do this. So I then returned to Britian , buying a property, paying all taxes and then worked in Britian again paying all the normal taxes and costs.

During my time abroad I met many other people and the majority were in a similar situation. Either trying to save for a house or some big thing, or using the job to move up in their career and gaining useful experience. Of course there was the odd person who appeared to be just avoiding not only paying taxes but seemed to be trying to avoid helping in a family situation.

So like any other situation there are a range of people and circumstances. Those of us who had worked abroad before had the knowledge and were able to make sensible precautions making sure we knew how to deal with possible situations that might arise. We made decisions to the best of our ability , as far as we knew it, but obviously things can change . No one can be sure of anything in life and in circumstances such as the present one, then british people should be able to count on help to return to Britian. That is part of the job that british embassies are there to do, and to be able to direct people to the best way forward. Their safety is the most important thing that needs dealing with now and once they are safely in Britian costs can be dealt with.

My son lives in Dubai and he assures me that very few people want to leave Dubai and return to the dreary UK. It's mostly media nonsense. That said, my wife is there as a tourist and she can't wait to leave, she was supposed to fly home last Sunday. Of course she has commitments etc back in the UK which need attending to. It's all about where your roots are and home is. Dubai is a fabulous place to live and work, with the added bonus of a less onerous tax regime. Hopefully, now that Trump has piked the hornets nest, the Iranian critters will flee

Pilrimandrew
‘Dubai is a fabulous place to live and work, with the added bonus of a less onerous tax regime.’

People used to say that about South Africa during apartheid. Dubai ( and other ME countries) have a dirty underbelly with dreadfully exploited migrant workers ( not ex pats) helping provide this ‘fabulous’ lifestyle. And of course, homosexuality is illegal

Those of us who had worked abroad before had the knowledge and were able to make sensible precautions making sure we knew how to deal with possible situations that might arise.

I agree. You factor it in to your costs.

Really. I’m not sure!

Thank you for your considerate reply.

My instsinct is also to say tax exiles and shrug, but actually that is not true. Most of the big financial companies and other companies as well have offices in these Gulf States and send sstaff out to work there. If someone is makiing normal career progress with a company a spell in the Gulf states could well be part of their career progress. The same with people who just went out there for a holiday. Not some where I would want to go on holiday, but that is irrelevant.

My partner worked in Saudi Arabia for 6 years. All the Brits there had an ‘ escape fund’ - some had a stash of krugerands, some had Rolex watches - the value was sufficient to pay for flights home if an emergency happened. This was during the Iran- Iraq war.

Many years ago when I married in the Middle East I went to the British Embassy to collect my British passport in my new name and it was handed over with the words “don’t come running to us if you get in any trouble”. Some years later there was a possibility that there would be evacuation of British citizens but I was told because I and my two children had dual nationality we couldn’t go on the list. At the time I just accepted it and as it happened there was no evacuation, but now I think that attitude wasn’t very helpful. I hope the rules have changed now for those wives and children in Dubai, and the other Gulf states. Unfortunately for those in Iran there is probably no hope of help at the moment.

Agree with GrannyG- just get them home asap

ronib

There’s a problem though if tax exiles return before the end of this tax year. The tax bill will be enormous….

Also it seems very unfair that families with the only wage earner living as a tax exile to have children and mothers return here and live without any tax contributions to the NHS, defence, security etc…

Totally agree. They are a bunch of tax dodgers in the main. If they are evacuated they should pay for it at least mark rates.

You know. British Airways first class.

The RAF is not a ferry service.

My friend in Dubai says that the people she knows are atm just sitting it out and not planning to leave. She says the Americans she knows are panicking a bit because their govt has told them to leave but has no plans to help them do so. Trump eh? What a dream he is

Tuliptree

Pilrimandrew
‘Dubai is a fabulous place to live and work, with the added bonus of a less onerous tax regime.’

People used to say that about South Africa during apartheid. Dubai ( and other ME countries) have a dirty underbelly with dreadfully exploited migrant workers ( not ex pats) helping provide this ‘fabulous’ lifestyle. And of course, homosexuality is illegal

Funny how all those out in the Gulf to benefit from the less onerous tax regime, immediately look to the British Government to get them out when it all turns nasty and even if they pay for their flight out. It will be the British taxpayer paying for the organisation of rescue flights. There will be a small standing office, which can immediately be staffed up and run 24/7 , somewhere in the Foreign Office, to run these rescues.

Of course they should pay to come back if they have been there years, they were there for the tax advantages and high wages so should have made provision. No doubt majority will sit it out if their homes are there.

I imagine it’s only those there on holiday that want to immediately come home, and of course they can pay for their flights and would do.

Tax dodging didn’t even enter our minds when we left the UK and I am sure 90% of people leaving are the same. What nasty assumptions some make.

nanna8

Tax dodging didn’t even enter our minds when we left the UK and I am sure 90% of people leaving are the same. What nasty assumptions some make.

I’ve yet to meet someone who’s gone to the ME who hadn’t mentioned the extremely low tax rates - their net pay must be part of their calculations in deciding whether it’s worth going or not. Plus of course, it’s very safe and a much better lifestyle than the UK. And great for heterosexuals

Different circles of people, clearly. Where we live the tax rate is huge and getting worse ( Labor government)

I can’t imagine any sensible person from any ‘circle’ emigrating without working out how much their income is going to be before and after tax. How would you know whether you could afford decent housing, medical care (or insurance) and so on without knowing what your take home pay was going to be?

Doodledog

I can’t imagine any sensible person from any ‘circle’ emigrating without working out how much their income is going to be before and after tax. How would you know whether you could afford decent housing, medical care (or insurance) and so on without knowing what your take home pay was going to be?

100%
Plus a contingency plan should things go wrong, as they can do ......... natural disasters, wars, financial crises etc. You need to factor in having to adapt to changing circumstances.
This is true whether you emigrate just across the channel or half way round the world.

How does it work in Dubai if you are gay?

What does being gay have to do with getting home safely or organising your finances? You won't be the last person left stranded to switch off the lights because you're gay or lesbian!

Unless you mean how you might be treated in daily life, but that's not relevant in the situation being discussed here?

Seemingly a nasty judgemental lot on here. Still that's socialism for you. Did you spout the same when we had to bring over a load of Afghanis because they were caught in a war. No I guess you didn't.

MartavTaurus

Unless you mean how you might be treated in daily life, but that's not relevant in the situation being discussed here?

I was responding to the thread title.

Obviously safety is of great importance.