Hong Kong’s ‘inward looking’ budget fails to prioritize expats Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee announced in the autumn that attracting expats back to Hong Kong was a priority. According to Bloomberg, this policy was expected to feature in the new budget, in the form of some incentives for attracting overseas talent. But financial experts say that … Read more
Property prices fall across the globe We have reported previously on sky-high rents in some regions of the world, such as Singapore, but in many parts of the globe real estate prices are falling, making this a good time for investors to investigate potential property purchases. Property prices in Stockholm have fallen by around 20% … Read more
This month, we’re going to take a look at the pursuit of wellness in the Middle East, from Dubai to Kuwait and elsewhere. The region is a popular choice among expats, when it comes to both employment and lifestyle: a sunny climate and a wide array of amenities for residents make many countries in the … Read more
Abu Dhabi: New Flexible Health Insurance The Department of Health and the Department of Economic Development (ADDED) in Abu Dhabi are now offering low-cost insurance options to a range of residents, including expats with an income of more than Dh5,000. The new policy will feature the following: • Cover of up to Dh150,000 per year• … Read more
The Pension Exodus Report Researchers at Investing Reviews, in conjunction with the UK Department of Work and Pensions, have compiled a list of the top ten destinations for British retirees in their recent Pension Exodus Report. Retiring abroad has always been a popular option among British pensioners – around a million of them currently live … Read more
Oliver Heslop, founder of Global Expatriate Tax Services (GETS) and Expatriate Tax Services London Ltd, is a highly experienced UK tax specialist dealing with expatriate cross border issues. He is also the official Expat Focus UK Taxation partner and is available to answer readers’ UK tax questions. In this article, Oliver looks at purchasing a house, comprehending payroll, and … Read more
This month, we’re going to take a look at advances in wellness and the future of the industry in 2023, and how this might apply to you as an expat. The wellness industry is, like any good business, in a constant process of development and change. AI and the rise of apps are contributing significantly … Read more
Saudi Arabia attracts expats to the country The Middle Eastern state is seeing an increasing number of expats flocking into the country after relaxing its visa requirements, international agency Deloitte told Al Arabiya News in late January. Relocation consultant Rached Bejjani told the press: “There are a lot more expats coming into the country … … Read more
Resistance to Kuwait’s healthcare regulations There have been calls this month for the Kuwaiti healthcare ministry to reconsider the charges currently levelled at expats. Medical costs for expats have risen by 100% in hospitals and by a massive 250% in pharmacies. Consultation costs for expats are also charged at a higher rate, running at around … Read more
Australian expats could benefit from new wealth management programme Atlas Wealth Management, a Gold Coast-based firm, has now set up Atlas Tax, aimed at providing tax compliance advice as well as investment counselling to Australian expats. The new section is designed to assist with: • Australian tax return preparation and lodgement• Australian tax advice• Private … Read more