Marcus

Marcus spent fifteen years in financial services in London, rising to a senior management position at a prestigious firm. But by 2019, the combination of high UK taxes, regulatory fatigue, and the grinding commute had worn him down. When COVID-19 hit and forced a reckoning about where he wanted to live and work, Marcus started looking at alternatives.

Dubai's fintech boom caught his attention. The city was attracting investment and talent, regulations were becoming more progressive, and—crucially—the newly introduced UAE Green Visa offered a path that hadn't existed before. Unlike traditional employment visas that tied him to a single employer, the Green Visa would let him be self-sponsored through a company he owned.

In early 2020, at age 38, Marcus made the leap. He set up a UAE mainland LLC, navigated the visa process, and relocated to a penthouse apartment in DIFC—close to the business community and the international financial hub he wanted to be part of. Six years later, his decision has paid off beyond what he anticipated.

Setting up in Dubai is structured but requires patience and expert guidance. Marcus's journey took approximately six weeks from decision to approved visa.

The first step was establishing his UAE mainland LLC company. This cost him approximately AED 15,000 (£3,200), though he initially underestimated the complexity. He quickly hired a local business setup agent—a service provider specializing in company registration—which added another AED 5,000 to his costs but saved him weeks of bureaucratic confusion.

Once the company was registered, he applied for the Green Visa through company ownership. The UAE required proof of company registration, a corporate bank account, and valid health insurance. The visa approval came through within four weeks, making the total timeline manageable.

One crucial detail: Marcus had to notify HMRC about his departure from the UK and file a tax return for the year of departure. This step is often overlooked by departing expats and can create complications later. He completed it before leaving, avoiding future headaches.

The UAE's bureaucratic requirements were more complex than Marcus anticipated. Navigating VAT registration (the UAE operates a 5% VAT system), corporate tax nuances, and visa compliance requires expert support—hence why his investment in a business setup agent paid for itself many times over.

Tax complications also extended to the UK. The year of departure is particularly complex from a UK tax perspective; it's a split year with different rules, and getting it wrong can trigger costly corrections. Marcus worked with a UK tax advisor throughout the process and strongly recommends others do the same.

Beyond administrative challenges, there's a learning curve on how business operates in Dubai. Relationship-building moves at a different pace, contract terms can be more informal, and the importance of a strong local sponsor network became clear quickly.