The UK and the UAE have long and deep ties that extend back 50 years. Those ties are built on friendship, cultural and economic relationships. At the heart of the current relationship is the initiative, known as the Partnership for the Future, announced earlier this year by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. It is a partnership that embraces 10bn of investment in innovation-led sectors over the next five years that are of strategic importance to both countries.
Open for business
The UK boasts the world’s fifth largest economy and is predicted to continue to grow throughout 2022 and 2023. It is home to over 66 million people, to one of the world’s leading financial centres and Europe’s largest venture capital community, so it is perhaps not surprising that, on average, more than 600,000 new businesses are started in or relocate to the UK every year. Over 2bn has been invested in UK businesses to date, with the UAE accessing world-leading R&D. Companies in the UAE can look to the UK for opportunities to grow where we understand one another business culture. The UK, redefining its position on the world stage following its exit from the European Union and rebuilding post-Covid economy, is open for business.
Why should international businesses choose the UK?
The UAE and the UK has long enjoyed a flow of bilateral business relationships. Many of the cities in the UAE have a large UK expat community, and in turn many UAE citizens come to the UK to live, work and do business. The UK remains the most popular European country for foreign direct investment, attracting some 56.9bn of investment in 2018. Whilst that will have understandably fallen in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the post Covid picture is encouraging and for good reason. The UK offers UAE businesses a world-class legal and regulatory system and a leading financial services environment needed to support growth. It is also home to a strong and forward-thinking advisory community. It is easy to establish a business in the UK, taking on average, just four days yet can be achieved in as little as 24 hours. Businesses are attracted by the flexibility of company structures, low regulatory burdens and the UK’s competitive tax regime.
For many founders, the quality of the UK’s education system, its universities and its cultural pull, together with a highly educated workforce, a time zone that reaches across the globe and its proximity to Europe are all important factors. The UK government works hard to ensure the UK remains competitive on the world stage, offering incentives and grants for businesses looking to grow and expand internationally. Our dedicated grants and funding team at Kreston Reeves is on hand to help. A new visa programme is in place designed to encourage exceptional talent to relocate to the UK, with visa decisions often given in as little as 15 days. Visa routes are also available for business leaders in certain industry sectors, technology being one example, making it easier for founders and their families to establish a UK footprint.
London and the South East
The UK government is proactively encouraging international businesses to relocate across the UK regions, yet it is London and the South East that continue to have the strongest pull. Alongside its renowned financial centre, London is home to Europe’s largest tech hub, TechCity, with a mix of global technology giants and a community of more than 375,000 developers. Venture capital investment into the technology sector reached 7.9bn in 2018, with IPOs and mergers raising over 49bn. The South East is home to thriving life sciences, high value manufacturers, aerospace and IT clusters, naming just a few, attracted by first class infrastructure, a high quality of living and a ready pool of 21m people. Kreston Reeves, with a footprint across London and the South East, is perfectly placed to help relocating businesses find the ideal location.
Competitive tax and regulatory environment
While the UK does not have the same low tax levels as the UAE there is still a good story to tell. The UK Government has announced its intention to increase Corporation Tax rates from the current 19% to 25% from April 2023. Despite this increase, the UK continues to offer businesses a competitive and relatively low rate when compared to other G20 nations. There are generous tax reliefs on research and development (R&D), with Patent Box effectively lowering corporate tax to just 10% on qualifying patented innovations. R&D tax credits can offer up to 230% on allowable research and development for small businesses, and the research and development expenditure credit offers 13% on allowable costs for large businesses. Individuals looking to relocate to the UK can also benefit from significant tax reliefs through the non-domicile regime and with additional reliefs available for those seconded to the UK and apportionment of taxable income if their work is outside of the UK.
Sector strengths
London and the South East offers real strength and depth across many industry sectors that reflect the expertise at Kreston Reeves. London is home to world class financial services and technology businesses, with the city ranked as the most connected place for tech after Silicon Valley. It also boasts a creative industries sector that is valued over 101bn, with TV and film production companies attracted to the expertise offered. The gaming sector is recognised as a global leader. UK Healthcare and life sciences continue to lead the world. London and the South East home to both the largest pharmaceutical businesses and to entrepreneurial biotechnology businesses. The opportunity to partner with the NHS continues to remain a strong pull. The UK and the UAE are aligned in many ways and across many industry sectors. Both countries continue to define business on the world stage and increasingly in partnership.
Why choose Kreston Reeves and the UK
Kreston Reeves is the perfect partner for individuals and businesses in the UAE looking to invest or with business interests in the UK. Our team of highly experienced financial, tax and accounting specialists offer:
- International tax planning advice to avoid and resolve complex cross-border tax issues.
- Indirect tax and duty expertise, whether supplying services between countries or importing or exporting goods.
- Outsourcing all financial functions, offering a virtual office in the UK.
- Corporate finance expertise to help buyers and sellers with cross border deals.
We are proud to be appointed by the Department of International Trade, the government body that promotes trade overseas, as one of its champions to help overseas businesses grow. We have been included in the government’s UK Investment Support Directory as one of its chosen experts, in supporting the government’s aim to ensure the UK remains the number one destination for foreign direct investment in Europe.