Anthony Joshua, the British-Nigerian boxing champion, has apparently revealed plans to relocate to Dubai, despite the ongoing violence in the Middle East.
The 36-year-old heavyweight boxer’s relocation was discovered via corporate papers pertaining to his commercial interests.
According to records from his company, Sparta Promotions, the former world champion has updated his residency information, indicating that he will now live in the United Arab Emirates.
According to The Daily Mail, as a UK resident, Anthony Joshua is normally taxed on dividends earned from his businesses.
Joshua received £10.1 million in dividends in 2024, up from £6.3 million the previous year. Sparta Promotions, which he runs, has also performed well financially.
The company reportedly earned over £20.396 million in 2024 and paid approximately £6.65 million in UK taxes during the same period.
Anthony Joshua has also increased his real estate presence in the Middle East.
According to rumors from December, he bought a luxury home in Sultan Haitham City, a new development near Muscat, Oman.
The purchase reportedly cost more than £1.2 million and includes a massive 15,300-square-foot penthouse known as the Sky Palace in the Park Lane 101 building.
Despite the ongoing violence in the region, the United Arab Emirates remains appealing to high-net-worth individuals.
The appeal arises directly from its tax regimes when compared to countries with similar economic and infrastructure prominence.
In the United Kingdom, for example, high-earning individuals, particularly professional athletes, have one of the most expensive income tax systems among advanced countries.
Individuals are grouped into various income categories under the current tax structure, with the top ‘additional rate’ reaching 45% on incomes more than £125,140. Before reaching that threshold, earnings from £50,271 to £125,140 are taxed at 40%, while earnings from £12,571 to £50,270 are taxed at 20%.
The UK tax system also applies to some aspects of global endorsement and sponsorship earnings, particularly where those gains are linked to activities or appearances in the country.
For example, the UK tax rules allow authorities to tax a portion of endorsement income based on the number of days an athlete performs or promotes in the country.
In comparison, the tax climate in the United Arab Emirates, where Dubai is located, is extremely different. Individuals are not subject to the nation’s personal income tax.
Salaries, wages, bonuses, investment income, and most other types of personal earnings are exempt from taxation for both residents and expats.
Individuals are not required to file personal income tax returns or disclose their earnings to the government because there is no personal income tax, and they are therefore entitled to keep the majority of what they earn.