Gulf Daily News (Bahrain) · 9 Sep, 08:05 · Business briefing

UAE Business: 97% UAE expats say living abroad brought financial freedom

A recent report highlights that ninety-seven per cent of expatriates in the UAE attribute their move to achieving financial freedom.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

A recent report highlights that ninety-seven per cent of expatriates in the UAE attribute their move to achieving financial freedom. This statistic underscores the region’s appeal as a global hub for tax-efficient employment and high disposable income. For professionals considering international relocation, the data suggests that moving to the UAE offers significant monetary advantages compared to living in their home countries. The findings reflect broader trends in global talent mobility, where individuals prioritise net earnings and cost-of-living benefits when selecting their next career destination. This insight provides a clear metric for evaluating the financial return on overseas work assignments.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must treat relocation as a strategic financial decision, not just a career change. Skills in cross-cultural communication and international compliance rise in value as you navigate diverse regulatory environments. If you aim for this financial freedom, you should prioritise roles with strong expatriate packages in sectors like finance, technology, or energy. A smart professional audits their current compensation against UAE market rates immediately. You should also upskill in global business practices to ensure your expertise translates effectively. Focus on building a portable skill set that commands premium salaries internationally. Evaluate your tax residency status early to maximise net income. This shift requires proactive planning; you cannot assume automatic success. Prepare for the cultural and logistical challenges of moving while securing roles that offer genuine financial upside.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Business And Management, Taxation Essentials and Leadership — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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