PCD Group recently brought together four leading practitioners for a live expert webinar exploring what it really takes for high net worth individuals and families to make a successful move to the UAE. Moderated by PCD Group Founder David Bell, the panel delivered a candid, in-depth guide to everything from wealth structuring and Golden Visas to school waiting lists and opening a UAE bank account.

Push, Pull — and a Fundamental Reassessment

The UAE has become the world’s leading destination for high net worth migration, and the reasons are more nuanced than headlines suggest. David Smylie, Group Head of GSB Private and a UAE resident for nearly a decade, described a compelling combination of “push and pull” factors. On the push side: a UK tax environment that has become “increasingly unfavourable and uncertain” for wealthy individuals and families, a gloomy economic outlook, and a broader reassessment of whether the UK still delivers on lifestyle, security, and global access. On the pull side: Dubai’s long-term visa reforms, a zero personal income tax framework, world-class infrastructure, and — in Smylie’s words — “an environment that supports and breeds success.”

Marie O’Neill, Co-Owner and Managing Director of EER Middle East, added that while tax remains important for UK arrivals, it is far from the only driver. Safety, lifestyle, and pure accessibility — over 20 direct flights a day between Dubai and London — rank equally highly. Notably, the source markets are diversifying. While the UK dominated two years ago, O’Neill is now seeing significant flows from Asia, the US, South Africa, and Europe.

Visas and Residency: The Golden Visa Advantage

For most relocators, the Golden Visa is the gateway to UAE residency. O’Neill outlined the key pathways: property investment (minimum AED 2 million), business ownership, and specialist professional qualifications. The Golden Visa offers a ten-year renewable residency with significant benefits — the ability to sponsor family members, no requirement to spend a minimum number of days in the UAE each year, and full access to UAE banking and services. For those not yet at the Golden Visa threshold, investor and employment-based visas provide viable stepping stones. O’Neill stressed that the process is more straightforward than many expect: the UAE government has invested heavily in making the application experience genuinely welcoming.

Banking and Wealth Management: More Than Just an Account

Navin Chokhani, who heads Private Banking Proposition and the External Asset Manager desk at Mashreq — the UAE’s oldest bank — explained that UAE private banking has evolved dramatically. Mashreq now has dedicated acquisition teams in the key corridors, i.e. UK and Hong Kong to support clients relocating to the UAE. The message was clear: UAE onshore banking is becoming a genuine wealth management hub, not merely a transactional facility. With reforms in the UAE related to taxation and Shariah law, which are no longer barriers for international clients, and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, HNW individuals are actively diversifying into UAE-based structures. Chokhani emphasised that the best banks go beyond account opening — connecting new arrivals to property consultants, education counselors, experts to structure family office wealth, trusts and foundations, and access to business banking, corporate banking as part of a fully integrated service.

Schools and Education: Plan Early

Aamynah Nagji of Bennett International Education Consultancy, who has lived in Dubai for 26 years, described a school landscape that has transformed beyond recognition. Dubai and Abu Dhabi now offer British, American, International Baccalaureate, and a range of other curricula, with the best schools consistently oversubscribed. The critical message for families: start the admissions process as early as possible, ideally twelve to eighteen months before the intended move date. Waiting lists at leading schools are long, and arriving in the UAE without a school place secured creates unnecessary pressure. Costs vary significantly by curriculum and school tier, and Nagji highlighted the importance of visiting schools in person before committing.

Financial Planning: Getting the Structure Right Before You Leave

Smylie was direct on financial planning: the work needs to begin well before departure. UK exit planning, restructuring portfolios for a tax-free environment, reviewing existing pension and investment structures, and establishing appropriate UAE-based wealth arrangements all require time. The good news is that for those who plan carefully, the financial benefits of UAE residency are substantial — but the window between deciding to move and actually leaving is critical. Smylie advised working with both UK-based tax advisors and UAE-based wealth managers simultaneously to ensure nothing falls through the gap between jurisdictions.

The Bigger Picture

What emerged most clearly across the hour was that successful UAE relocation is a team effort. The interplay between visa timing, financial restructuring, school admissions, banking setup, and the physical move itself means that working with specialists in each area — and coordinating them effectively — makes a decisive difference to outcomes. For high net worth individuals and families, the UAE continues to offer an exceptional combination of financial efficiency, quality of life, and genuine global connectivity. Getting there well-prepared is what separates a smooth transition from a stressful one.

This webinar is available to watch on demand for PCD Group members. For more information about upcoming PCD events and webinars, visit pcdgroup.co.uk