First it was the 2008 global recession, when the UK wrestled with recession and stagnant wages while the UAE – especially Abu Dhabi – poured money into new infrastructure and jobs. Then came the 2016 Brexit referendum, prompting UK business owners and digital nomads to explore more stable, low‑tax jurisdictions.

When covid‑19 hit, the UAE moved early to reopen, rolled out a 10‑year Golden Visa and later the Green Visa, which removed the need for an employer sponsor, drawing in a new wave of high net worth entrepreneurs. 

By the time the first bombs fell on Tehran in March 2026, an estimated 250,000 Britons had put down roots in the Emirates.