People living in the Middle East

Many years ago when I married in the Middle East I went to the British Embassy to collect my British passport in my new name and it was handed over with the words “don’t come running to us if you get in any trouble”. Some years later there was a possibility that there would be evacuation of British citizens but I was told because I and my two children had dual nationality we couldn’t go on the list. At the time I just accepted it and as it happened there was no evacuation, but now I think that attitude wasn’t very helpful. I hope the rules have changed now for those wives and children in Dubai, and the other Gulf states. Unfortunately for those in Iran there is probably no hope of help at the moment.

My partner worked in Saudi Arabia for 6 years. All the Brits there had an ‘ escape fund’ - some had a stash of krugerands, some had Rolex watches - the value was sufficient to pay for flights home if an emergency happened. This was during the Iran- Iraq war.

My instsinct is also to say tax exiles and shrug, but actually that is not true. Most of the big financial companies and other companies as well have offices in these Gulf States and send sstaff out to work there. If someone is makiing normal career progress with a company a spell in the Gulf states could well be part of their career progress. The same with people who just went out there for a holiday. Not some where I would want to go on holiday, but that is irrelevant.

Thank you for your considerate reply.

Really. I’m not sure!

Those of us who had worked abroad before had the knowledge and were able to make sensible precautions making sure we knew how to deal with possible situations that might arise.

I agree. You factor it in to your costs.

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

My son lives in Dubai and he assures me that very few people want to leave Dubai and return to the dreary UK. It's mostly media nonsense. That said, my wife is there as a tourist and she can't wait to leave, she was supposed to fly home last Sunday. Of course she has commitments etc back in the UK which need attending to. It's all about where your roots are and home is. Dubai is a fabulous place to live and work, with the added bonus of a less onerous tax regime. Hopefully, now that Trump has piked the hornets nest, the Iranian critters will flee

I have travelled and lived abroad including living in Damascus. Probably partly being the eldest in my family, and being a lecturer I have always been someone who takes care and checks on thing, before following any new plans. So before I commited to moving I made sure that I had enough money to pay a full price ticket to get home, and also paid I think it was called class c, where I paid national insurance to remain up to date , which I continued to pay for the whole time I was abroad - which of course meant that I was receiving no medical or dental attention or any other things whilst I was paying in this money.

There are many reasons people go to work abroad and I first went abroad not to get out of paying tax or anything else, but to save money to allow me to buy a house when I returned. I saved up every penny I could and did without many other things to allow me to do this. So I then returned to Britian , buying a property, paying all taxes and then worked in Britian again paying all the normal taxes and costs.

During my time abroad I met many other people and the majority were in a similar situation. Either trying to save for a house or some big thing, or using the job to move up in their career and gaining useful experience. Of course there was the odd person who appeared to be just avoiding not only paying taxes but seemed to be trying to avoid helping in a family situation.

So like any other situation there are a range of people and circumstances. Those of us who had worked abroad before had the knowledge and were able to make sensible precautions making sure we knew how to deal with possible situations that might arise. We made decisions to the best of our ability , as far as we knew it, but obviously things can change . No one can be sure of anything in life and in circumstances such as the present one, then british people should be able to count on help to return to Britian. That is part of the job that british embassies are there to do, and to be able to direct people to the best way forward. Their safety is the most important thing that needs dealing with now and once they are safely in Britian costs can be dealt with.

It’s not really defrauding the original countries who educated them, enabled employment opportunities and educated them to a level where incredible salaries become payable… it’s just showing a callous disregard for any payback via taxation to support any group less advantaged than themselves. I find it hard to believe that any lawyer really is worth £1 million plus a year but that’s the going rate in the middle east banks….

I notice all the talk of Sarah Ferguson possibly relocating to Dubai has gone quiet. 😂

Surely the people you are talking about, irrespective of their nationality, have chosen to live in the Middle East in order to avoid taxation in the countries in which they are citizens?

Or have I misunderstood the issue?

If my original statement is correct, then my feeling is that they must themselves pay for getting out of what is now a war zone into safety. Why on earth should the tax payers in their countries have to indirectly pay for their transport? They are already defrauding the country in which they are citizens of the tax they owe.

IMO, Expats should pay. It's a consequence of their decision to live there and avoid UK taxes. Other British citizens, just passing through/returning should pay the cost to the Gov (for repatriation etc) of the flight they would have used for forward travel/to return home.

I am British and am an Immigrant living in Luxembourg.

If there was a need to be repatriated back to the UK due to war here I would be very grateful to the British Government if they help me get out of danger.

However I would expect to contribute to the cost of doing so.

GrannyGravy13

AGAA4

First and foremost get them out of there.
Sorting out repayment can come once they are safe

I totally agree with you on this 👍

So do I, and I don't think anyone has said differently? I do think they should be helped to get out, but if they have made their home elsewhere, and are not paying tax here, I don't think British taxpayers (or non-Brits who pay tax in the UK) have a responsibility to fund their flights. Of course they should be able to board without paying, but they should definitely be charged.

People who are there (or who are passing through) on holiday are a different matter, I think.

Regardless of payments, I hope all F&F of posters make it home swiftly and safely. It must be a huge worry if you have loved ones trapped in a war zone.

Well Mojj we’re talking about a very different situation with a very different demographic. I can’t remember about Covid and evacuating Chinese people. But anyway it’s not relevant. There’s no logical argument at all for expats in ME getting free flights. The UK is working on evacuation planning -that’s their role.

Tuliptree

Yes - no free flights to safety.

What if they lived on benefits so not only paid no tax but worse just claimed other peoples, should they have to pay? I seen to remember us rescuing many from China during Covid.

I haven’t seen any news yet about expats queing to come home. Atm I think it’s people stuck in transit isn’t it that are being dealt with if possible and I doubt there’s any fly now pay later rubbish going on

Maremia

Get them safe. Then deal with the money.

Easy to do it simultaneously I’m sure - and much more time efficient than chasing thrm up afterwards. The UK have asked UK citizens to register with them -it can bs part of the registration process -who knows, they might even have credit cards like wot I have . Stop making it sound so difficult - it really isn’t.

Get them safe. Then deal with the money.

AGAA4

First and foremost get them out of there.
Sorting out repayment can come once they are safe

Absolutely, but sorted out it must be.

Presumably there are military personnel and families.

They need bringing home asap I think.

Tuliptree

GrannyGravy13

Two families I know (one my Goddaughter) still have properties in the UK. They pay council taxes, road fund licence for car, tax on their rental income from their home rental.

If push comes to shove and they need repatriation of course all British citizens should be offered the chance of a safe passage.

Unless you know the financial details of every ex-pat, it seems rather heartless to put finances over lives.

No-ones putting finances over lives. Some of us just agree they should pay for their ticket. This is normal embassy practice and they already have a form for it. They will not pay the full cost to us of the FCO time needed to sort this out.

I have not said they shouldn’t pay.

If they need to be repatriated, then the Government should do so PDQ and sort payment out once they are safe on UK soil.

GrannyGravy13

Two families I know (one my Goddaughter) still have properties in the UK. They pay council taxes, road fund licence for car, tax on their rental income from their home rental.

If push comes to shove and they need repatriation of course all British citizens should be offered the chance of a safe passage.

Unless you know the financial details of every ex-pat, it seems rather heartless to put finances over lives.

No-ones putting finances over lives. Some of us just agree they should pay for their ticket. This is normal embassy practice and they already have a form for it. They will not pay the full cost to us of the FCO time needed to sort this out.

AGAA4

First and foremost get them out of there.
Sorting out repayment can come once they are safe

I totally agree with you on this 👍