Anthony Joshua has decided to leave the UK for the United Arab Emirates, even though more than 100,000 Britons have tried to leave Dubai in the last 10 days
12:56, 10 Mar 2026Updated 13:28, 10 Mar 2026
Anthony Joshua has made the decision to quit the UK for Dubai(Image: Getty Images)
Anthony Joshua has made the shock decision to quit the United Kingdom to move to Dubai – despite the ongoing US-Iran conflict in the United Arab Emirates. Joshua, 36, has confirmed he is due to be a resident in the UAE, even though the desert city is currently coming under attack from Iranian suicide drones.
The former heavyweight world champion, who was born in Watford of Nigerian heritage, represented Great Britian and won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, but he is now leaving his home nation, according to the Daily Mail. The surprise move by Joshua is revealed in the paperwork he filed on Friday for his £150m business empire in which he is required to state which country he lives in.
The documentation shows that Joshua even pressed ahead with his decision to switch residential status amid the war attack between the USA, Israel and Iran. UAE have been targeted by Iran with missiles and drones across the last 10 days to two weeks, which has seen more than 100,000 Britons attempt to flee the Middle East nation and move back home to the UK.
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While the weather and facilities are an ultimate draw for those wanting to live in Dubai, the city is popular with the wealthy because there is no income tax there. Joshua would have been liable to pay UK tax on his dividend payment of £10.1m in 2024 and £6.3m in 2023.
His company Sparta Promotions also made profits of £20.396m and paid £6.65m in UK tax in 2024.
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Anthony Joshua has moved out to Dubai(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Joshua’s decision comes in the same week Rio Ferdinand and Kate Ferdinand revealed what it is like to live in Dubai amid the US-Iran war. “Been a different week for me, not going to lie,” ex-Manchester United defender Ferdinand said last Monday. “Firstly, I’m in great condition this morning as the whole family did a workout. A bit like in Covid, the whole family is doing things we wouldn’t usually be doing together.
“Home-schooling a bit today. It’s frightening when you hear missiles, planes and fighter jets – I don’t know what it is – going above us, and you’re hearing big bombs, and what that is we don’t know as we don’t know the details of what they are.
“It’s telling your kids what it is and helping them navigate through this moment, which is important especially as the dad of the house. You want to try and remain calm and keep everybody as calm as possible.
Ferdinand moved his young family to Dubai in 2025(Image: rioferdy5/Instagram)
“I’ve got to be honest guys, it’s been a bit of a scary situation but at the same time weirdly enough I’ve felt very secure and looked after. My studio has become my bunker.
“We were advised to go into the basement on the first night of all the noise started and we were down here sleeping with duvets and stuff. We are utilising the space wisely.”
Kate reassured fans of their safety amid concerns following the first set of missile strikes in Dubai.
She said on Instagram: “Thank you for all of your messages and sorry for the silence, I haven’t wanted to worry you all I just haven’t been able to find the words. We are safe.
“The government are doing an amazing job of keeping it that way and despite my nerves I feel we are in very safe hands. We are hoping for a calmer evening tonight, last night was very scary. Although Cree and Shae loved it as they couldn’t believe we all got a sleepover in the basement.
“Thank you for all of your prayers, this whole experience is very eye-opening and I am praying for anyone affected. Lots of love to everyone.”
Joshua is set to join a long list of celebrities to move to Dubai, with with ex-boxer Amir Khan and Hollywood star Lindsey Lohan among the others to settle in Dubai.