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Why families are reconsidering where they call home
The UK’s forthcoming reform of the non-domiciled (non-dom) tax regime marks one of the most significant shifts in its approach to international wealth in decades. For ultra-high-net-worth families with cross-border ties, the proposals have raised urgent questions about future residency, investment structures, and long-term succession planning.
While details continue to evolve, the direction of travel is unmistakable: the long-standing advantages of the non-dom framework are being reduced. As a result, many families are now re-evaluating how and where their wealth is organised and whether other jurisdictions can offer the stability, flexibility, and neutrality they value most.
A changing landscape for international wealth
The UK’s appeal to international families has long rested on its legal sophistication, rule of law, and favourable treatment of offshore income. With the new regime, that balance is shifting. Time-limited benefits and broader inclusion of global income and gains under UK tax will fundamentally alter how international residents manage their affairs.
This change reflects a wider global trend toward tax transparency and the alignment of residency with taxation. For mobile families, it highlights the importance of understanding how residence decisions influence asset protection, governance, and multi-generational planning.
UAE's growing attraction
Against this backdrop, the UAE has emerged as a leading alternative for UHNW families. Its advantages extend well beyond the absence of personal income or capital gains tax. The UAE offers political neutrality, modern regulation, and a welcoming, globally connected environment for entrepreneurs and investors.
Residency pathways are now clearer than ever, and the country’s family-friendly infrastructure, from education to healthcare, supports a smooth transition for international residents. For those accustomed to London’s standard of living, Dubai offers comparable sophistication, enhanced privacy, and easy connectivity to major financial centres across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
At Aument Capital, we’ve seen a marked increase in interest from families who wish to maintain their professional and cultural links to the UK while establishing their personal and financial base in a more agile jurisdiction.
The importance of structure and timing
Relocation is rarely a single decision, it’s a sequence of strategic choices. Timing, governance, and asset migration all need to align. The UK reforms may accelerate conversations, but the real objective is broader: to design a structure that supports your family’s future for decades to come.
Many families are exploring UAE-based foundations or family-office structures to enhance control and protection. Others are using Dubai as a coordination hub, overseeing assets held globally while benefiting from the UAE’s ADGM and DIFC frameworks.
The key is integration - aligning residence, structure, and long-term objectives before new regulations take effect. When approached strategically, relocation becomes not a reaction to policy but a proactive step toward greater stability and opportunity.
A global perspective
The UK’s non-dom reform is part of a broader redefinition of global wealth management. In today’s environment, advantage lies not only in tax efficiency but in agility and the ability to adapt as laws and priorities evolve.
Jurisdictions such as Dubai, Singapore, and Switzerland continue to attract globally mobile families by combining strong governance with quality of life and investment opportunity.
For UHNW individuals, the question is no longer simply where to live, but how to live well while preserving flexibility. The new era of mobility isn’t about escaping taxation; it’s about redefining what home means - a place where wealth can grow securely, families can thrive, and the next generation can plan with confidence.
