A British social media personality and verified Forex trader has said he moved his family from the UK to Dubai this year because he no longer felt safe living in Britain, citing a series of thefts and vandalism and what he described as a lack of police deterrence.
Dan Cheung, who posts vlogs about his lifestyle and moneymaking tips, told followers in a video that his Porsche was broken into while he was sleeping and that his Mercedes-AMG had been keyed. He said those incidents, along with an increase in phone thefts and street robberies, convinced him the UK no longer offered adequate protection for his family.
Cheung, a husband and father of two who was born in Milton Keynes and later lived in London, told viewers he feared walking around with visible valuables in the UK. "There's a risk of just getting stabbed for no reason just to try and take the watch," he said, and added that "people are snatching phones, crime is happening with no repercussions." He criticised police response, saying "the police just aren't people you really want to turn to because they just don't do anything either."
Comparing the UAE's largest city with the UK, Cheung said Dubai offered a level of personal security that allowed him to wear luxury watches and drive high-end cars without the constant concern he described in Britain. He also cited business reasons for the move, saying many peers live in Dubai and that the city is a useful networking hub between the UK and Asia.
Official figures show police recorded around 4.5 million victim-based offences in the 12 months to March 2025, a 2% decrease from the previous year, according to Home Office statistics. Theft offences in the UK can carry sentences of up to seven years for more serious cases, along with community sentences or fines. In comparison, theft in Dubai can be punished with up to three years in prison, fines of up to AED 30,000 (about £6,050), or deportation, and attempted theft is also criminalised.
Analysts tracking high-net-worth migration have recorded increased flows to the UAE. The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2025 estimated the UAE would attract a record 9,800 millionaires this year, many from the UK. Independent movers and relocation firms have also reported a surge in interest from British nationals: John Mason International Movers said enquiries from UK nationals wanting to relocate to the UAE rose 420% in the five years to 2024, with a 45% jump in the 12 months to March 2024. Estimates place more than 240,000 Britons living in Dubai.
Cheung said practical lifestyle considerations shaped the decision as well, including Dubai's climate, tax regime and the presence of international business contacts. He told viewers that dressing and grooming habits, as well as surrounding oneself with "like-minded people," were factors he considered important to personal and professional success.
His account reflects broader migration and lifestyle trends among some affluent Britons who cite security, tax and networking as reasons to relocate. The shift has coincided with increased media attention on urban crime, public confidence in policing and changing patterns of luxury migration.
Cheung's remarks were made on social media to explain why he uprooted his family from Milton Keynes. He acknowledged that moving carried trade-offs: "It is what it is, there's pros and cons to everything. I love the UK, I was born and bred here but at the end of the day it just changed," he said.
Authorities in both countries set and enforce legal penalties for theft and violence, and prosecution and sentencing depend on the evidence and circumstances of each case. Cheung's personal decision to move highlights how individual perceptions of crime and public safety can influence migration choices alongside economic and professional considerations.