From UK taxes to UAE base: How Dubai’s zero income tax attracts athletes like Anthony Joshua
Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has updated his residency details to the United Arab Emirates, according to corporate filings linked to his commercial interests.
Documents from Sparta Promotions, the company associated with Joshua, show his listed location has changed from the United Kingdom to the UAE, a move that shines a light on why Dubai and the wider Emirates have become a popular base for high-earning athletes.
In the UK, residents are typically taxed on income such as dividends paid through their businesses. The Daily Mail reported that Joshua received £10.1 million in dividends in 2024, up from £6.3 million the year before. It also reported that Sparta Promotions posted £20.396 million in earnings in 2024 and paid about £6.65 million in UK taxes.
By contrast, Dubai is widely seen as attractive to wealthy individuals because the UAE does not levy personal income tax, making it a draw for internationally mobile stars whose earnings often include sponsorship and endorsement deals alongside sporting income.
Joshua has also expanded his property footprint in the region. Reports in December said he bought a high-end home in Sultan Haitham City near Muscat, Oman, including a large penthouse.
Joshua confirmed the move in the same week that former England footballer Rio Ferdinand and his wife spoke publicly about life in Dubai during heightened regional tensions.
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