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Smoke billows from Dubai\u2019s Jebel Ali port \u00a9 Fadel Senna\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Concerns other than tax, such as children having remained in the UAE, have been motivating others urgently trying to return.<\/p>\n
Hannah Wailoo, co-head of the Middle East group at law firm Withers, said: \u201cThere\u2019s a whole raft of people who will be [in the UK] and can\u2019t get home. They\u2019ve got an immigration status issue, they might have a tax issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staying abroad too long could present two tax problems, Wailoo said: the people concerned might not spend enough days in Dubai to qualify for residency there; and they might spend too many days in the UK and be counted as UK tax residents. <\/p>\n
Generally, individuals need to spend 183 days within a consecutive 12-month period to qualify as tax resident in the UAE. Another option is a 90-day minimum if they hold a residence visa, have a permanent home, are employed or carry out business in the UAE.<\/p>\n
The UK calculates an individual\u2019s tax residency based on a statutory residence test. Under the test the number of days someone can spend in the UK varies depending on how many ties they have to the country.<\/p>\n
Some individuals living abroad could spend up to about 120 days in the UK and still remain non-resident, whereas others with stronger UK connections may need to keep their presence much lower at 90 or 46 days or even fewer.<\/p>\n
Eamon Shahir, co-founder of online tax filing service Taxd who advises those moving from the UK to Gulf states, said that the key issue for most individuals splitting their time between the UK and UAE was remaining non-resident under the UK\u2019s statutory residence test, which they could do by spending time in any country outside the UK.<\/p>\n
Dubai also has large numbers of wealthy people from countries other than the UK, including India and France, with those individuals facing similar difficulties in trying to retain their UAE tax residency if they are currently outside Dubai. Spending more than 183 days in a country typically results in becoming tax resident in that country.<\/p>\n
In contrast to those trying to return to Dubai, many others are desperate to leave<\/a>. The cost of private jets and hire vehicles has risen sharply as some companies try to evacuate employees, according to insurance groups providing crisis-response protection.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Lee Harris<\/p>\n