“It’s Time to Get Out” How One Tech Founder Moved His Life, Legacy and Liquidity from London to Abu Dhabi
With insights from John Blake & Dr. Alexander Kern
It was early April when the decision finally landed.
A call from his tax adviser confirmed what he’d been dreading:
“You’ve missed the non-dom cutoff. You’re now fully on HMRC’s radar.”
For a 42 year old tech founder preparing for a nine-figure exit, that wasn’t just an inconvenience, it was a financial time bomb.
He had built his company from a garage in Hammersmith, scaled it globally, and now stood on the brink of a once in a lifetime liquidity event. Most readers have probably used already the services of this FinTech. But as the finish line approached, so did the UK’s tightening grip on non-dom rules, trust transparency and foreign asset reporting.
And with two teenage daughters growing up in a London that felt increasingly unsafe, something in him cracked.
“It’s time,” he told us.
“Time to get out and set up properly elsewhere.”
Yes, He Missed the Deadline. But He Didn’t Miss the Point.
This wasn’t just about taxes.
It was about control. About protection. About the next chapter.
In Abu Dhabi, he found a clean slate, a place where entrepreneurs aren’t punished for success, where capital flows faster and where governments partner with founders rather than suffocating them with red tape.
He now lives in a gated villa on Yas Island, minutes from world-class schools and with global access from a rapidly expanding capital city. His daughters attend an international school. The city feels safe, modern, and wired for families with ambition.
Meanwhile, the business foundations are stronger than ever.
Structure Over Scramble
This wasn’t about opening a bank account and catching a flight.
It was about building a private and professional institutional-grade setup, quickly but precisely.
That’s where our integrated team stepped in.
Dr. Alexander Kern, with deep expertise in UAE structuring, investment platforms and fund vehicles, worked hand-in-hand with John Blake, UK based Trust & Fiduciary Specialist/Expert.
Together, they built a multi-jurisdictional framework, with layered structures across ADGM and BVI—designed to hold the founder’s personal capital, intellectual property, and growth-stage equity.
“The key in these transitions isn’t speed, it’s coordination,” said Dr. Alexander Kern.
“You can’t have five advisors pulling in five directions. You need one integrated vision that’s investor-ready, regulator-compliant, and future-proof from day one.”
“The mistake we see too often,” added John Blake,
“is founders trying to solve a cross-border problem with local advice. That’s how you get conflicting answers, delays—and sometimes irreversible mistakes. Our role was to coordinate everything, so he didn’t have to manage the managers.”
- No back-and-forth between disconnected tax lawyers.
- No contradictory timelines.
- No hidden conflicts of interest.
One unified strategy. One integrated execution.
The Bigger Picture: Dubai vs. UK Taxes
Tax | UAE | UK |
Personal Income | 0% | Up to 45% |
National Insurance | 0% | Up to 15.05% |
Capital Gains | 0% | Up to 28% |
Inheritance Tax | 0% | 40% above £325,000 |
Dividend Tax | 0% | Up to 39.35% |
VAT | 5% | 20% |
Corporate Tax | 0–9% | 19–25% |
Property Tax | ~2% transfer | 5–17% stamp duty + annual council tax |
The UK once made sense.
But the rules changed and the founder did too.
From Reactive to Ready
Today, his exit is weeks away.
The liquidity is planned.
The assets are protected.
The structures are clean.
And most importantly, his family is settled.
Yes, he missed the UK deadline. But he didn’t miss the opportunity.
When you’re on the verge of turning your life’s work into generational wealth, you need more than a tax plan.
You need a strategy.
A structure.
And advisors who can see the whole board not just one square.
John Blake and Dr. Alexander Kern advise HNW families, founders, and funds across the UK, Middle East, and key global jurisdictions. If you’re facing a moment like this founder, a major exit, family relocation, or cross-border restructuring—we’re here to help you do it once and do it right.
Discreetly. Decisively. And without compromise.