British boxing star Anthony Joshua, 36, has formally confirmed his decision to leave the United Kingdom and establish residency in Dubai, a move that comes despite the desert city currently being described as a “warzone” facing nightly attacks from Iranian suicide drones. The dailymail.co.uk reports that this surprising relocation has been revealed in paperwork filed on Friday for his estimated £150 million business empire, where he is legally required to declare his country of residence.
Joshua, born in Watford to Nigerian parents, is a former heavyweight world champion and an Olympic gold medalist from the 2012 London Games, having also been awarded OBE and MBE honours. His decision, revealed in filings for his companies Sparta Promotions Limited and 258 Investments Limited, proceeds despite the ongoing conflict involving the USA, Israel, and Iran, which has seen the UAE come under sustained attack. This conflict has reportedly left “thousands of Britons desperate to get out,” with some paying up to £100,000 for private jet evacuations.
Beyond the favorable weather and world-class training facilities, Dubai is particularly attractive to the wealthy due to its lack of income tax. This is a significant factor for Joshua, who would have been liable for UK tax on dividend payments of £10.1 million in 2024 and £6.3 million in 2023. His company, Sparta Promotions, additionally reported profits of £20.396 million and paid £6.65 million in UK tax in 2024.
The timing of Joshua’s announcement coincides with former UK footballer Rio Ferdinand and his wife, Kate, publicly discussing their experiences living in Dubai during a missile attack.
Joshua has long been a frequent visitor to Dubai, utilizing its sporting amenities for training, engaging in promotional activities for various brands, and vacationing. A notable instance of this was in 2017 when he conducted a training sparring session on the helipad of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel. More recently, he visited late last year, dining with promoter Eddie Hearn, and again last month for training sessions with MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.
This striking decision to shift his base also follows a tragic road accident in Nigeria last year, which claimed the lives of his close friends, personal trainer Kevin ‘Latz’ Ayodele and long-time therapist Sina Ghami. Joshua has been in recovery since the ordeal, recently sharing on Snapchat, “Rehabilitation protocol. When you go through certain things, you realise that you are stronger than you think you are.”
Joshua now joins the ranks of other wealthy Britons who have chosen to reside overseas, including Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, both residing in Monaco, and Pimlico Plumbers tycoon Charlie Mullins, who lives in Marbella.
