A Brit who left the UK for sunny Dubai says her family’s happiness has “increased” a thousand-fold since the move.
Poppy Owen, 33, and her husband Benjamin, 38, moved to the tax-free haven with their two young children, Effie Beau, five, and Indie Summer, three.
The business owner, who is originally from North Wales, says there were many reasons – including the weather and the financial savings on her monthly salary.
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She claims the cost of living is very similar to that of Britain but with more money in their pockets, the family enjoy a much better standard of living.
“In the UK, I was the worst version of myself,” Poppy told What’s The Jam.
“Overweight, unhappy and wanted to stay indoors all the time because of the cold weather.
“In Dubai, we spend a lot of time outside, doing outdoor activities.
“As a family we are so much more active.
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“We have such a variety of things to do and are spoilt for choice.
“So our overall happiness has increased by 1000.
“With being business owners in the UK, everything we were making we felt like we were giving away to the government.
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“45% tax bracket with 20% VAT but with nothing to show for it.
“Plus, the weather was a huge factor for us.
“I’m happier when I’m in the sunshine!”
The family moved to Dubai three years ago in December 2022.
Poppy said: “Funnily enough, it was never on our goal list to move to Dubai.
“We had been on holiday there three times as a couple and Ben’s best friend, wife and children were moving out there for work and with us being online business owners.
“We thought, ‘Why don’t we go? The children are small enough. If we don’t like it, we’ll come back.’
“So we just said ‘Yes, let’s do it!’”
Although they have no regrets about their move, Poppy explains that life in Dubai is very different to what most people would think.
She said: “Everyone sees the flash cars, luxury penthouses and yachts and thinks that’s how everyone lives their life here.
“But it couldn’t be further from the truth.
“As a family-of-four, we live further out in the desert, in a family community with lots of greenery, more chilled lifestyle living and our complex even has its own waterpark.
“It’s been set up for families so that it has everything you need with parks, pools, shops, restaurants, cafés everything!”
“I worked out that with the tax we were paying in the UK including living costs and the cost of living in Dubai with 0% income tax actually balances out and ends up being similar.
“Except here, you have way more to show for your money, a higher quality and variety of life with sun and vitamin D as an added bonus.
Poppy did point out that moving abroad is “quite high” in terms of set-up costs, adding that you’re “basically setting your life up somewhere else and starting from scratch”.
One thing Poppy has noticed a slight difference is schooling.September.
She said: “The education is pretty similar.
“They attend a British school, however schools in Dubai are the equivalent to private schools in the UK.
“You have to pay for their education.
“Nothing is free.
“They do have a swimming pool in their school and have swimming lessons, which I think is great!”
She also discussed the hardest part of moving so far from home – missing family.
Poppy added: “Not being able to see family and friends as often as we would like in person is the hardest part.
“Sometimes you just want a cuddle from your mum!
“Luckily, technology is really great.”
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