Why the Gulf States Make great bases for Expats
- Diversification Station
- Jul 30, 2022
- 2 min read
Out of all the world’s unique regions, the Gulf States (This article will focus specifically on Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE) can provide a unique combination of safety, Low Tax-Living, Great Public Healthcare, and Ease of Travel. For these reasons many expats choose to make one of the many Gulf States their home.
Safety in the Gulf States
Contrary to western belief, the Gulf States are some of the safest and most secure countries, especially for expats. Meaning, you can walk around at night without feeling the need to look over your shoulder. If you are looking for a safe place to live, then consider the Gulf Nations.
Low Tax-Living
Regarding taxes, the gulf countries are solid choices for any Entrepreneur or Digital Nomad. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE differ slightly in their taxes, with the UAE having the highest total taxation rate of 2.5%(1) and Saudi Arabia having the lowest total taxation rate at 1.4%(1). Please note that the total taxation rate combines Income, Goods and Services, Corporate, Trade, Property, and other taxes, for a total tax sum.
I find it extremely interesting that in many European countries one can pay upwards of 60% in total taxation, while in the Gulf States one might end up only paying 1-2% in taxes(1). This may be a reason to reconsider moving to Europe and instead opt for a nation such as Saudi Arabia or Qatar.
Great Public Healthcare
Another reason to consider the Gulf Countries is because of their great public healthcare. In Saudi Arabia and Qatar, all residents receive top-notch quality Healthcare, regardless of nationality.
Unfortunately, the UAE only provides free Healthcare for Emirati nationals. This means that if you are an expat, that you will have to foot the bill for your medical needs in the UAE. This stark contrast between the two nations makes Qatar and Saudi Arabia a stronger option because you are avoiding potentially high medical costs.
Ease of Travel
Thanks to the Gulf Nations central location on the globe, it makes inter-continental travel much easier and shorter. A flight from Dubai to Germany is around 5 hours and 47 minutes(2), while flights from New York to Germany are around 7 hours and 45 minutes(3). This is an impressive metric because it shows that you have a wide range of convenient options when flying out of the Gulf.
Another interesting thing to note about air travel in the Gulf is, the Gulf’s emersion as one of the worlds prime aviation hubs. In the last decade Dubai’s and Doha’s airports have emerged as world travel hubs. Qatar has the world’s most connected Airline, Qatar Airways. This Airline offers the most direct flights in the world.
Thanks for reading, and don’t forget the Gulf Nations when creating an international diversification plan for yourself and or your family!
References:
(1)https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Structure-of-non-oil-tax-revenue-in-GCC-countries_tbl1_319645539
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