British boxing superstar Anthony Joshua has officially confirmed he is leaving the United Kingdom to become a resident of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, filing paperwork for his £150 million business empire that lists the UAE as his new country of residence .
The 36-year-old former two-time unified heavyweight world champion, who was born in Watford to parents of Nigerian heritage and won Olympic gold for Great Britain at the 2012 London Games, made the decision public in documents filed on Friday . The move comes despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which have seen the UAE targeted by missile and drone attacks over the past two weeks .
Joshua’s relocation follows a traumatic event on December 29, 2025, when he survived a fatal car crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria. The accident claimed the lives of two of his closest team members, personal trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele and strength coach Sina Ghami .
Dubai’s tax system, which does not charge personal income tax, makes it particularly attractive to high-earning athletes and entertainers . Joshua would have been liable to pay UK tax on his dividend payment of £10.1 million in 2024 and £6.3 million in 2023. His company Sparta Promotions also made profits of £20.396 million and paid £6.65 million in UK tax in 2024 .
To maximise any tax savings, Joshua could be forced to spend barely two weeks a year in the UK .
Joshua’s decision to move to Dubai comes as more than 100,000 Britons have attempted to flee the Middle East nation amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran . The attacks have seen thousands of Britons living or visiting Dubai left desperate to get out, with some paying as much as £100,000 to secure private jet evacuation .
The UAE has been subjected to more than 1,400 missile and drone attacks, according to Jamal Al Musharakh, UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations. UAE air defense systems successfully intercepted the vast majority with high efficiency, but the attacks resulted in the deaths of four civilians and left 114 others with minor injuries .
Virgin Atlantic has suspended services to and from Dubai, while British Airways is still not operating flights from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other destinations in the region . The Foreign Office has launched a booking portal for Britons in Dubai wishing to fly back, promising the most vulnerable would be prioritised .
Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand, who moved to Dubai with his family last year, described taking shelter in an underground space with his family. “The studio became our bunker. We laid out blankets and slept underground. It was scary, but strangely, I also felt protected,” he said .
His wife Kate Ferdinand shared on social media: “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” .
Former Love Island star Arabella Chi, also living in Dubai, described hearing “petrifying” explosions from her home. “Last night, we literally saw (explosions) coming from not far from our house, and it was petrifying,” she said .
Joshua joins a growing list of high-profile figures who have relocated to Dubai, including former boxing champion Amir Khan, Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan, Bollywood stars Vivek Oberoi and Sanjay Dutt, Irish singer Ronan Keating, and former Australian cricket legend Brett Lee .
UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev is based in Dubai and was also granted UAE citizenship .
The UAE government maintains its position of non-participation in the conflict, reiterating at the United Nations and other international forums that UAE territory is not being used as a base for strikes against Iran and that the country remains committed to de-escalation . Officials have also imposed a nationwide ban on all drone and light sports aircraft operations .
