People living in the Middle East

sixandahalf

How does it work in Dubai if you are gay?

Prison

Or travel with military, perhaps?

Either way, incredibly brave. Really rate Anna Foster. .

Random question. With the travel restrictions in mind, I’m listening to Anna Foster reporting from the ME. She’s been travelling widely through the region this week, from country to country.
Do journalists just get around by road with local guides in 4x4s?

I often felt I have entered the twilight zone or alternate universe when I arrived at Gransnet. Such as this thread.

Surprise to see the level of resentment and anger and name calling (tax dodgers and fraudsters) levelled at fellow citizens – British expats working and living in Middle East at a time when their lives are in danger.

I heard of the tall poppy syndrome. As soon as someone becomes successful, some people become envious and resentful and will cut that person down to their level.

The people returning home now are holiday makers on transit who are stuck in Middle East . They cannot rely on their travel insurances since travel insurances do not cover acts of war.

So looking towards the FCO to help them repatriate back home to Old Blighty.

More speculatively- if UK residents choose to leave ME and come and reside in UK now- before tax year end in April this may have tax implications? I8f so perhaps some are considering such implication in their decision to stay, wait or leave. I evidently don't know and am just speculating.....

Middle Eastern countries often feature a zero personal income tax feature and low VAT equivalent. Evidently the avoidance of tax regimes such as UK and Australia provides huge draw to those who choose to move and work and live in ME. Not a nasty assumption in any way.

Nann8 "Tax dodging didn’t even enter our minds when we left the UK and I am sure 90% of people leaving are the same. What nasty assumptions some make"

Posts referring those who live/work in the Middle East for beneficial tax reasons- do not apply to those who have chosen to emigrate to Australia.

Freya5

Seemingly a nasty judgemental lot on here. Still that's socialism for you. Did you spout the same when we had to bring over a load of Afghanis because they were caught in a war. No I guess you didn't.

You know very well, (or should do) that we evacuated a great many Afghans from their own country because, having worked for the allies in Afghanistan they were in very real danger of vicious and bloody reprisals by the Taliban.

They weren't holiday makers, workers seconded to Afghanistan or tax exiles. They were people in imminent mortal danger because of their support for the 'invaders'.

I seem to recall our PM and Foreign secretary of the time being on holiday and really not particularly interested,,

What a ridiculous comparison you made.

nanna8

Different circles of people, clearly. Where we live the tax rate is huge and getting worse ( Labor government)

But you don’t live in the Middle East … do you Nanna8?

I thought you lived in Australia?

MartavTaurus

Unless you mean how you might be treated in daily life, but that's not relevant in the situation being discussed here?

I was responding to the thread title.

Obviously safety is of great importance.

Seemingly a nasty judgemental lot on here. Still that's socialism for you. Did you spout the same when we had to bring over a load of Afghanis because they were caught in a war. No I guess you didn't.

Unless you mean how you might be treated in daily life, but that's not relevant in the situation being discussed here?

What does being gay have to do with getting home safely or organising your finances? You won't be the last person left stranded to switch off the lights because you're gay or lesbian!

How does it work in Dubai if you are gay?

Doodledog

I can’t imagine any sensible person from any ‘circle’ emigrating without working out how much their income is going to be before and after tax. How would you know whether you could afford decent housing, medical care (or insurance) and so on without knowing what your take home pay was going to be?

100%
Plus a contingency plan should things go wrong, as they can do ......... natural disasters, wars, financial crises etc. You need to factor in having to adapt to changing circumstances.
This is true whether you emigrate just across the channel or half way round the world.

I can’t imagine any sensible person from any ‘circle’ emigrating without working out how much their income is going to be before and after tax. How would you know whether you could afford decent housing, medical care (or insurance) and so on without knowing what your take home pay was going to be?

Different circles of people, clearly. Where we live the tax rate is huge and getting worse ( Labor government)

nanna8

Tax dodging didn’t even enter our minds when we left the UK and I am sure 90% of people leaving are the same. What nasty assumptions some make.

I’ve yet to meet someone who’s gone to the ME who hadn’t mentioned the extremely low tax rates - their net pay must be part of their calculations in deciding whether it’s worth going or not. Plus of course, it’s very safe and a much better lifestyle than the UK. And great for heterosexuals

Tax dodging didn’t even enter our minds when we left the UK and I am sure 90% of people leaving are the same. What nasty assumptions some make.

I imagine it’s only those there on holiday that want to immediately come home, and of course they can pay for their flights and would do.

Of course they should pay to come back if they have been there years, they were there for the tax advantages and high wages so should have made provision. No doubt majority will sit it out if their homes are there.

Tuliptree

Pilrimandrew
‘Dubai is a fabulous place to live and work, with the added bonus of a less onerous tax regime.’

People used to say that about South Africa during apartheid. Dubai ( and other ME countries) have a dirty underbelly with dreadfully exploited migrant workers ( not ex pats) helping provide this ‘fabulous’ lifestyle. And of course, homosexuality is illegal

Funny how all those out in the Gulf to benefit from the less onerous tax regime, immediately look to the British Government to get them out when it all turns nasty and even if they pay for their flight out. It will be the British taxpayer paying for the organisation of rescue flights. There will be a small standing office, which can immediately be staffed up and run 24/7 , somewhere in the Foreign Office, to run these rescues.

My friend in Dubai says that the people she knows are atm just sitting it out and not planning to leave. She says the Americans she knows are panicking a bit because their govt has told them to leave but has no plans to help them do so. Trump eh? What a dream he is

ronib

There’s a problem though if tax exiles return before the end of this tax year. The tax bill will be enormous….

Also it seems very unfair that families with the only wage earner living as a tax exile to have children and mothers return here and live without any tax contributions to the NHS, defence, security etc…

Totally agree. They are a bunch of tax dodgers in the main. If they are evacuated they should pay for it at least mark rates.

You know. British Airways first class.

The RAF is not a ferry service.

Agree with GrannyG- just get them home asap