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Goodbye London.. Survey Reveals the Secret to the UAE's Allure for Britons
An exclusive survey conducted by the UAE's The National newspaper revealed that safety and long-term opportunities remain the top factors attracting British migrants to the UAE, at a time when the increasing wave of emigration from the UK is making headlines in British newspapers.
The survey, which included 2,000 UAE residents, showed a clear difference in priorities between life in Britain and the UAE. While Britain still retains a strong emotional appeal linked to heritage, culture, and nostalgia, practical considerations are increasingly dominating immigration decisions.
Many participants expressed significant hesitation or outright refusal to move to the UK under its current circumstances, citing high living costs, rising crime rates, and a declining sense of security as key reasons.
In contrast, the UAE's appeal is primarily focused on the future. Respondents confirmed that career opportunities, stability, and quality of life are the decisive factors that make them prefer to stay or move to the country.
British national Justin Cook, who moved to Abu Dhabi with his wife and two children last year, says: “For me, the UAE represents everything a modern country should aspire to. Simply put, it’s the safest place on Earth, has a fantastic climate most of the year, and is connected to half the planet within a three-hour flight. I couldn’t prefer it.”
Hannah Castleton, who has lived in Dubai for seven years, describes the UAE as “a land of opportunity and convenience”: “Clean, safe, full of activities, high-quality healthcare, and easy access… you’ll never run out of experiences here.”
Raising Children and Safety
Family life emerged as one of the strongest draws across all age groups, with the majority of residents finding the UAE an ideal environment for raising children, supported by high levels of safety, education, and overall lifestyle.
In this context, the survey revealed a significant gap in safety ratings, with a difference of 31 percentage points. 82 percent of respondents described the UAE as “very safe and stable,” compared to only 51 percent who applied the same description to the UK.
This contrast reinforces the feeling among many that the UAE offers greater peace of mind, especially for families and young people planning for the long term.
“My 10-year-old gets to go out and about on his own here,” says Laura Goldman, a mother of two. “It’s something I never dreamed I’d allow him to do in Britain. The summer heat and traffic are a small price to pay for my children’s safety.”
Emily Evans, who gave birth to her children in the UAE, adds, “Dubai is very safe, clean, child-friendly, and has a family-like community. Our children are living a life we never even knew was possible.”
Career Opportunities
Regarding job opportunities, 77 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the UAE offers strong career prospects, compared to only 7 percent who disagreed. Britain came in relatively close, with 73 percent perceiving good job opportunities, but the UAE clearly outperformed the UAE in the overall perception as a destination for long-term career growth.
Open-ended responses
In the open-ended responses, words like “safe,” “family-friendly,” “wonderful,” “beautiful,” and “expensive” topped the list of most frequently used expressions to describe the UAE.
The survey results underscore a broader shift that goes beyond mere migration trends—a move from nostalgia to realism, from tradition to future opportunities, and from familiarity to a long-term vision of stability and prosperity.
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