I quit the UK for a sunny tax haven to save my son’s future – Britain’s too expensive, dangerous & no quality of life
THANKS to grey skies and the rising cost of living, life in the UK can feel a bit bleak, at least that’s what wellness expert Chloe Pierre thought.
The author and public speaker opened up about her decision to ditch the UK for sunny Dubai after giving birth to her son in 2021.
Speaking on the Mums The Word! podcast last year, Chloe, who is the founder of a wellness community, told influencer Grace Victory why it was the right move for her family.
“I always knew I just had to get out but I never did it when I was single and didn’t have a child, but I think having my son has been the push [I needed], it’s a no-brainer,” Chloe explained.
“There’s more to life than living in the country where you just have to work, pay your bills, barely afford to do anything and then that’s it,” Grace added after Chloe revealed her Dubai plans.
“This is not life,” she added.
Despite the excitement about the moves, Chloe said she’s being realistic about it all and doesn’t believe it will solve all her problems.
That said, it was still the obvious choice for the mum when she weighed up the pros and cons.
“I have to do it for my mental health, I have to do it for my son’s future because I can’t see much greatness here for him.
“I hope that things do change but as it stands I’m just not happy with it,” Chloe said.
Safety was also a big reason she decided to finally take the plunge, after not always feeling secure in the UK.
Chloe said she’d spent plenty of time in Dubai over the years, has even had family immigrate to Dubai and never once felt in danger.
“The safety element is too much for me personally. Not just with him but with myself, I don’t feel 100% safe (in the UK),” she explained.
“I’ve spent time in that region over the years and no matter what I always felt safe.”
“Yes, it’s a culture shock,” Chloe told Grace, but as far as she was concerned Dubai isn’t as bad as people make it out to be.
Of course, Dubai has it’s fair share of problems.
While official figures are hard to come by, it is estimated that thousands of Brits are arrested in Dubai and the wider United Arab Emirates (UAE) every year for ‘crimes‘ that have included calling someone a ‘horse’ on social media, kissing and accidentally brushing past someone.
Chloe isn’t the only Brit who has decided to quit the UK for sunnier, and more sandy, pastures though.
Countless influencers have taken to documenting their new lives in Dubai, like TikTok user Sarah (@sarahs_dubai_diary).
She revealed that she left her house in the UK which she’d resided in for 10 years with her partner.
The TikToker said it was “the best decision” despite the stress of the international move.
And after viewing villas the couple decided to place themselves further away from the city centre to afford a more high-end space.
How easy is it to move abroad?
Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here’s what you need to do at home before moving:
- Notify HMRC about your upcoming move.
- Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address.
- Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving.
- If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad – contact the International Pension Centre.
- You can sign up to the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
- If you have outstanding student loans, contact the Student Loans Centre.
- If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools.
The villa included four bedrooms and four bathrooms, which the mum said “really suited our family.”
She revealed that the downstairs bedroom is referred to as a maid’s quarters in Dubai and she was left “surprised at the amount of bathrooms” in the home.
In a follow-up video, she revealed that her electricity bill is just £45 a month and she pays £6 for water, making it cheaper than living in the UK where prices are set to rise again.
The mum, who works as a virtual assistant to a fitness influencer, shared her favourite part of villa-living.
“I love our community gym and the pool is just heavenly, especially in the week when the kids are at school,” she said.
She showed her followers a glimpse of the gym and pool facilities in the community.
While Sarah said the move had “not been without it’s stresses” she said it was “so worth it.”
UAE strict public decency laws
The UAE’s public decency laws, which cover nudity and other ‘lewd behaviour’, carry penalties of up to six months in prison and a 5,000 dirham (£983) fine.
The sharing of pornographic material is also punishable with prison time and a fine of up to 500,000 dirhams under the country’s laws, which are based on Islamic law, or Shariah.
The pictures came as a shock in the federation of seven Arab sheikhdoms, where tamer behaviour – like kissing in public or drinking alcohol without a licence – has landed people in jail.
Any person who lives in or visits the UAE is subject to its laws and there are no exceptions for tourists.
2017, a British woman was sentenced to one year in prison for having consensual sex with a man she wasn’t married to.