By David Byers.
Agents say there has been a 15 per cent rise in inquiries from the UAE since the Iran war led to drone attacks and warnings over free speech
Wealthy British expatriates based in Dubai are contacting luxury London property agents in growing numbers, seeking urgent rental arrangements as regional instability and restrictions on freedom of speech prompt a reassessment of life in the UAE, according to reporting in The Times.
Agents across the prime London market report a notable surge in enquiries from UK nationals who relocated to Dubai — drawn by its tax advantages and perceived safety — but who are now looking to return home, some on an emergency basis, seeking luxury short-term rentals at upwards of £5,000 per week in areas such as Kensington, Chelsea and Notting Hill.
Camilla Dell, Managing Partner at Black Brick, offered a frank assessment of the shift in sentiment. She noted that warnings from UAE authorities — reminding residents that sharing unofficial content about the conflict, including footage of drone strikes, could result in prosecution — had proven a wake-up call for many. “People look at the UAE with real rose-tinted glasses and it takes something like this just to bring it all back into perspective,” Dell told The Times. “This is a country which is geographically located in a very, very volatile region, and there is no freedom of speech.”
The potential return of even a fraction of the estimated 240,000 British expats living in the UAE could provide a meaningful boost to London’s prime property market, which has faced headwinds in recent years from the abolition of non-dom tax status and elevated stamp duty rates. Sold property prices in London’s £4.5 million-plus market declined 4.8% last year, according to Savills.
By contrast, Dubai’s super-prime market had surged — with Knight Frank data showing sales of homes at $10 million or above rising 351% since 2021. The current instability may now be prompting a reversal of that trend.
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