UK taxes hiked by £26 billion, UAE expatriates gauge impact

EXPATS WEIGH ISA AND PENSION IMPLICATIONS AS UK ROLLS IN NEW CHARGES

- BY JUSTIN VARGHESE

Shoppers walk along Regent Street in London. UK budget has raised tax pressures for residents.

(AFP)

Britain's latest budget is drawing strong interest among UAE-based British expats, with several measures expected to raise personal tax burdens for residents in the UK while leaving overseas nationals largely insulated.

Advisers say the contrast could make the Gulf — particularly the UAE — more attractive for long-term planning. The budget introduces higher voluntary national-insurance contributions for Britons paying into the UK state-pension system from abroad. It also signals potential complications for those holding Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) while living overseas, prompting some expatriates to reassess how they structure repatriation plans.