Why is the UAE attracting more Brits? Better lifestyle, it's that simple

When it comes to soft power, Britain has boundless appeal. However, on harder, more tangible items, it is found wanting.

The exodus of billionaires and sports celebrities is attracting headlines – steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is the latest to leave the UK. These figures are receiving acres of publicity, but there are many more, nothing-like-as-wealthy, who are also making this identical, life-changing decision. The choice has been eased by the ever-rising draw of the UAE as a world commercial and trading hub, offering ease of relocation and excellent communications. What were regarded as obstacles in the past, no longer apply.

What is clear is that when it comes to doing the math, the UAE is winning every time. Britain is great, lovely even, but so, increasingly, is the UAE with the financial pluses to match. That is the strong conclusion of The National’s poll into perceived differences between UAE and UK, and why people choose to move between the two.

Asked for the first words that come to mind when thinking of the UK, the survey respondents put history, heritage, football, Premier League, London, Royal Family, monarchy, culture and arts at the forefront. Even Big Ben scored more highly than work, job opportunities, living standards.

Healthcare and education systems are rated favourably, as is the UK being a good place to bring up a family. As expected, the cold, wet weather, when compared with the sunny UAE, finds few friends. But then so do the high cost of living, security and safety, racism and discrimination, housing shortages and the expense of renting, and high taxes.

What do people see in the UAE 02:43

With Rachel Reeves’s budget this week, it is probable that these latter findings are only going to climb. The Chancellor appears set to increase taxes to plug the gap in the public purse, with the well-off financially almost certainly fixed in her sights.

Meanwhile, traditional and social media abound with lurid, frightening tales of growing UK crime. “Lawless London” has become a well-worn phrase. It is not necessarily true – the Metropolitan Police insists the capital is less crime-ridden – but somehow the opposite view prevails. It is not helped by the fact that many of the reported and much pored-over crimes relate to street robberies of luxury watches and jewellery – again targeting the rich, just the sort to be influenced into relocating to somewhere like the UAE.

Rising racism and discrimination is becoming an issue, the result of so much attention afforded to illegal immigration and the way in which the right, notably Reform UK, have made this such a hot political battleground. The atmosphere, particularly for non-whites such as Mr Mittal, is fast-becoming unpleasant if not downright hostile