With the draw of all-year round good weather, a better lifestyle and a tax-free existence it’s no wonder so many famous faces are making the move to Dubai.
Add in Labour’s controversial new mansion tax to the mix and cue a brand new wave of movers.
While Dubai has previously been known for attracting influencer types and Love Islanders, this year a wider group of businessmen and women and sporting stars have chosen to take the leap to the Arab Peninsula.
Most recently was Apprentice star Luisa Zissman, 38, who this month revealed she is moving to the celeb-favourite spot with two of her three children, joining her Irish millionaire husband Andrew Collins, 59, who has already relocated from the UK.
She followed Kate and Rio Ferdinand and Petra Ecclestone and her husband Sam Palmer in the huge move.
So what has temped these rich and powerful stars to uproot their lives and escape Britain?
Luisa Zissman
Luisa recently revealed that she and her family are moving to Dubai.
She shared that she is relocating to the UAE with her family after growing tired of UK weather and crime rates.
Alongside posting a snap of herself in a yellow bikini on Sunday, Luisa revealed that leaving the ‘miserable’ UK for a new life in Dubai will mean ‘everything is better,’ noting the financial and lifestyle benefits of her big move.
She also gushed that she and Kate Ferdinand will be ‘neighbours’ after she and husband Rio made a similar move to Dubai earlier this year.
Luisa previously revealed that she was moving with two of her three kids, to join her Irish millionaire husband Andrew Collins who has already relocated from the UK.
She also explained that her eldest daughter, 15-year-old Dixie, who she shares with her ex-husband Oliver Zissman, will remain in the UK and finish her education at her boarding school.
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Luisa recently revealed that she and her family are moving to Dubai. She shared that she is relocating to the UAE with her family after growing tired of UK weather and crime rates
Sharing an update on social media last week, Luisa told fans that five of her horses were ready to fly out as part of the ‘big relocation to Dubai for us all’
She is first spending some time in The Maldives with her family, so they can reset ready for the big change
One of Luisa’s followers recently asked her: ‘Awwww wow. Do you mind me asking why you’ve left the UK. Is it better for the kids there and work/life balance. Thank you.’
She then replied: ‘Look around and all your questions will be answered. Safety, lifestyle, weather, financially everything is better for us if we leave the UK. Sick of miserable grey skies and miserable grey people.’
Luisa previously lifted the lid on her ‘stressful’ move to the UAE, with five of her pet horses as well as two nannies, who are also joining the family in Dubai.
In her latest post Luisa said: ‘It’s been manic navigating our move to Dubai, kids schools, moving 5 horses (the most stressful part!), packing boxes & shipping them, arranging visas for our lovely nanny’s both are relocating with us!’
‘And now it’s time to relax in the Maldives for a week before we head to our new home in Dubai, so excited for this next chapter in our adventure!’
She went on: ‘Also some answers to Q’s I keep getting; LuAnna [Her podcast with Anna Williamson] is NOT stopping. [My Mum] is not moving with us (but has a bunch of flights booked to come out and visit).’
‘We are keeping Champneys 2. Yes it’s a permanent move in the sense that it’s not for winter only & will be our home for the foreseeable. Over & Out England’.
Petra Ecclestone
Last week it was revealed that the latest figure to be packing her bags for the Persian Gulf is Formula 1 heiress Petra Ecclestone (seen with husband Sam Palmer)
Last week it was revealed that the latest figure to be packing her bags for the Persian Gulf is Formula 1 heiress Petra Ecclestone.
The daughter of billionaire Bernie Ecclestone is moving to Dubai in the new year.
Petra’s husband, Sam Palmer, says the family ‘will soon’ relocate to the UAE. ‘Can’t actually wait now,’ the Essex-born estate agent, 42, enthuses.
The couple currently live in a £65million French chateau-style home in Los Angeles, while retaining their £170million mansion in Chelsea, west London.
Petra, 37, complained earlier this year about how her life in California had deteriorated.
‘The crime in America is awful and we want a safe environment for our kids,’ the mother of four explained, adding: ‘It’s the gun crime and the shootings.
‘We ice-skated with our kids just before Christmas, and a homeless person dropped dead next to us. And seeing people smoke crack is not an environment we want to be in.’
Petra divorced her first husband, socialite James Stunt, the father of her eldest three children, in 2017 after six years of marriage.
Speaking in the capital, she said: ‘I do love London, but we won’t move back here for personal reasons.’
Her sister Tamara’s Kensington home was raided in 2019 by foreign thieves, who stole £26million of jewellery. Three of the burglars were deported after repaying just £37,000 of the proceeds.
Tamara said: ‘I have not received any compensation for the burglary but no amount could ever compensate for the aggressive home invasion we suffered.
‘My children are in fear that thieves could return to the house while they are sleeping. There will never be any justice for that.’
Kate and Rio Ferdinand
Rio and Kate Ferdinand swapped their life in south-east London for the sun-soaked desert in the United Arab Emirates back in August
TOWIE star Kate, 34, and her footballer husband Rio, 46, swapped their life in south-east London for the sun-soaked desert in the United Arab Emirates back in August.
The Daily Mail revealed the couple found their new £6.5million home in the exclusive gated community of Al Barari, with the luxury property listed for 32.5million dirhams (£6,550,310) as of April this year.
Announcing their relocation to UAE in an Instagram post in August, Rio and Kate shared that they were ‘scared, excited and nervous’ about the move, but were ready for a ‘fresh start’ in the same city where they met eight years ago.
Kate wrote: ‘A new chapter, a fresh start — because if we don’t try, we’ll never know✨. Ahhh! We’ve talked about this for so long, and now it’s finally real… we’re here, we are making a new home in the place we met!
‘Missing some of our specials already & a bit scared, excited & nervous — but more than anything, ready for fresh starts and new beginnings ❤️.’
The former footballer and TOWIE star and their five children have joined a slew of stars in making the decision to jet off to the United Arab Emirates for a new life in the sweltering sun
Rio recently revealed the motivation behind his decision to relocate to Dubai just months after quitting his punditry role at TNT Sports.
The former Manchester United and England defender announced in May that he was parting ways with the broadcaster at the end of last season to focus on his business interests.
Ferdinand, whose time on TNT Sports (previously known as BT Sport) spanned 10 years, has decided to relocate with his family to the United Arab Emirates, despite his 19-year-old son Lorenz signing his first professional contract with Brighton in July.
‘There’s not one reason,’ Ferdinand told The National, opening up on the decision. ‘I went for the Global Soccer Awards at Christmas and I hadn’t been there properly for about seven or eight years. I used to go there all the time before.
‘We spent time with a couple of (partner) Kate’s friends who lived there and I just saw a different side to it. I also have a business out there, Football Escapes.
‘In Dubai, it feels like they’re valued and the lifestyle means that they’re happy and vibrant with a good energy for the kids. Lifestyle, safety, weather and just a new life.
‘I wanted a new chapter and I’ve been doing TNT (TV) since I retired for the last 10-11 years. When I made the decision, I thought ‘this must be 30 years when my life is driven by the fixture list.’ Not now. I’m not leaving football, but it’s just not the governing body of my life now. I’ve got to be honest, it feels nice.’
Kate gave her fans a glimpse inside her lavish mansion in Dubai on Sunday as she enjoyed family time with her children
The Manchester United legend went on to admit that his children’s education was a key motivation behind the move.
‘I thought about moving, then we went back again in February for a little look at the schools just in case and it just pricked my mind to think about it,’ he added.
‘That was almost like a big kicker for me because the education system felt different, felt better for my kids. The children who are coming are 14, which is perfect because it’s their two years of GCSEs starting this August.
‘Then we’ve got a four and a two-year-old, so it’s perfect timing for them as well. And the curriculum is English curriculum, but it’s just done a different way.
‘I feel the teachers in the UK feel a little bit like undervalued, underpaid.’
Kate and Rio share son Cree, four, and daughter Shae, two.
Kate is also step-mother to Rio’s older children Lorenz, 19, Tate, 17, and Tia, 13, from his marriage to Rebecca Ellison – who tragically died in 2015.
Amir Khan
Amir Khan meanwhile revealed he turned to the UAE when he was left feeling unsafe in the UK following a gunpoint robbery in London
He relocated to Dubai and purchased a lavish pad with his wife Faryal and their three young children
The retired boxer’s family home is in his native Bolton, but he also owns a palatial holiday home in the UAE after originally announcing plans to invest there in 2002.
He finally came good on the claim in 2022 by snapping up a luxury coastal property for himself, wife Faryal Makhdoom and their three young children.
Showing off the lavish pad on Instagram, he wrote at the time: ‘Just bought my family a holiday home in Dubai.’
The former sportsman also credited his close friend Maaz Jethwa – founder of the UAE-based company New Door – for helping him decide on the property.
‘Thanks to Maaz Jethwa for finding me my perfect place,’ he wrote alongside a picture of the pair outside his new home.
Arabella Chi
Back in August Arabella revealed that she was moving to Dubai with her partner Billy Henty after they welcomed their baby daughter Gigi
At the time she shared a photo of her belongings packed into cardboard boxes. She wrote alongside it: ‘All boxed up and ready to move out’
Back in August Arabella revealed that she was moving to Dubai with her partner Billy Henty after they welcomed their baby daughter Gigi.
At the time she shared a photo of her belongings packed into cardboard boxes.
She wrote alongside it: ‘All boxed up and ready to move out.’
Arabella then shared a photo of the view from her swanky and modern flat in Battersea, before sharing a photo of her empty flat.
She often shares her lavish jet setting lifestyle and sun-kissed getaways, which she can look forward to enjoying more often of as she has now relocated to the UAE.
Speaking to her followers on Instagram back in summer, she shared: ‘We’re actually moving to Dubai next month so there’s a lot of change going on at the moment.
‘I’m looking forward to just being settled and just enjoying new life in Dubai,’ she added.’
Laura Anderson
Former airline stewardess Laura Anderson swapped her native Scotland for some much needed sunshine on the Arab Peninsula in May 2021
Former airline stewardess Laura Anderson swapped her native Scotland for some much needed sunshine on the Arab Peninsula in May 2021.
Four years after finding fame in the Love Island villa, Laura moved into a lavish penthouse with then boyfriend Dane Bowers – best known as a former member of ’90s R&B band Another Level.
Following the move she wasted no time in flooding her Instagram grid with images of the luxury home, complete with stunning views of the neighbouring Dubai Marina.
However there would soon be trouble in paradise for Laura, who relocated to London after splitting with Bowers in 2022 following a five year romance.
The TV personality is now permanently based in the UK with her daughter Bonnie, who she shares with her ex Gary Lucy.
Amber Turner
Kate Ferdinand’s former love rival Amber Turner, who dated her ex Dan Edgar, also moved to Dubai, where she documents her life of busy brunches and gruelling workouts at Barry’s Bootcamp
Amber relocated to Dubai following her split from Dan Edgar in 2023 and she has now found love again with boyfriend Archie Chandler
Amber relocated to Dubai following her split from Dan Edgar in 2023 and she has now found love again with boyfriend Archie Chandler.
In September, insiders said: ‘She has known Archie for months now and the pair have often spent time together in Dubai but she’s still taking their relationship slowly.’
Despite living abroad, the stunner, who has been a cast member on TOWIE since 2017, still jets back to shoot the show alongside her close pals.
In a recent episode, she spoke to her pals Chloe Meadows, Courtney Green and Harry Derbidge about holidays – to which they suggested visiting her in Dubai as they would have ‘free accommodation’ by staying with the star.
