UK citizens have left the country in rising numbers over the past year, driving a slump in net migration numbers, with the majority being young workers aged 16 to 34, official figures show.
The data emerged a day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled the biggest tax hike in a generation in her budget, including a mansion tax on properties worth more than £2 million.
In the month running up to the budget there was a 342 per cent increase in online searches for “moving to Dubai” as speculation mounted about tax rises, according to one calculation.
ONS
Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that net migration to the UK, the difference between the number of people moving long-term to Britain and the number of people leaving the country, stood at an estimated 204,000 in the year to June 2025.
That is down more than two thirds from 649,000 in the previous 12 months, driven by an increase in people moving out of the country, as well as by fewer people from outside the EU arriving in the UK for work or to study, the ONS said.
The ONS data for the year ending May shows that of the 693,000 of all nationalities who left, 252,000 were British nationals. Separate figures released for the year ending in March show that 174,000 of those who emigrated are aged 16 to 34. Generation Z is aged 13 to 28, while the official statistics overlap with younger millennials, or Generation Y.
The emigration figure in recent years is approaching the levels of the early to mid-1970s when the UK’s economic difficulties, including strikes and rampant inflation, led to what was dubbed a “brain drain” of professionals and skilled workers.
David Little, a partner at wealth management firm Evelyn Partners, told The National there is a "growing trend of young professionals, typically early-20s children of our clients, emigrating with Dubai emerging as a popular destination".
"Economic pressures – rising unemployment and taxes, stagnant wages and soaring living costs – are driving this shift," he added.
He said that Dubai offered a "compelling Instagram-friendly package", including tax-free income, housing allowances, health insurance and, in some cases, employer-sponsored schooling for families. "This contrasts sharply with the UK, where high earners can lose up to 45 per cent of income to taxes, a burden that is even heavier here in Scotland," he said.
"The allure of a luxurious lifestyle, world-class infrastructure and strong job markets in finance, technology and professional services adds to the appeal. With Dubai’s tax-free salaries and attractive lifestyle perks, it’s easy to see why it’s becoming a top choice for graduates seeking opportunities."
Stuart Wakeling, head of the UK office of Henley & Partners, a consultancy which helps high-net-worth individuals relocate, told The National that for his clients the UAE will be the “number one choice this year”.
He said that when he began working “we received applications from very few British people, if any, per year”.
“How times change. Last year, the biggest uptake of services in my office was from Brits and although we have some time before year end, its looking very similar this year too,” he said.
Mr Wakeling said his clients “choose the UAE because of its favourable tax regime, the climate, the safety and the positive business-driven nature”.
“The UAE has done an amazing job in making itself attractive to the wealthy and those who want to become wealthy or at least maximise their income,” he added.
The data on searches for “moving to Dubai” was gathered by construction and project management platform Morta, using analysis tool Glimpse in the 90 days leading up to the budget.
The company said that to calculate the 342 per cent surge it compared search volume in the most recent 30-day period, roughly October 26 to November 26 against the previous 30-day period.
A recent poll of UAE residents for The National showed the rising cost of living, concerns about crime, and a perceived decline in safety were major reasons why they would hesitate to live in the UK.
Mary Gregory, ONS executive director for population and census, said that “nine out of 10 British people emigrating are of working age”.
“Net migration is at the lowest level seen since 2021, when pandemic lockdown restrictions were lifted and the new immigration system was introduced following the UK's EU exit,” she said. “The fall is largely due to fewer people from outside the EU arriving for work and study-related reasons, with a steep decline in the number of dependants and a continued, gradual increase in levels of emigration.”
