Moving to the UAE, from the US.
An American moving to the UAE in 2026 pays 32% income tax on $1M in Dubai with the US federal floor applied, against 43% in New York, and still files a US return. The engine puts Dubai first in the UAE for a US citizen leaving New York.
In short, current to October 2026
- For a US citizen leaving New York on $1M a year, the Patrician.ch engine ranks Dubai first in the UAE, number 1 of the 83 places outside the 50 states. It weighs tax with the US floor applied, the route in, safety, schools, sun, cost and the flight home.
- In Dubai, income tax on $1M for a US citizen comes to 32% with the federal floor applied, against 43% in New York, $107K a year less than New York.
- The local rate in Dubai on $1M, 0%, is below the US federal 32%, so the federal rate is the figure that applies to a US citizen.
- For a US passport, the route into Dubai is a straightforward permit. The flight from New York is 12h 40m to 12h 45m.
- The board lists no regime for new arrivals in the UAE. Current to October 2026.
Official sources: UAE Government Portal, UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. Checked against them on .
Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 47 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to October 2026. Updated . Cite as: Patrician.ch, Moving to the UAE from the US 2026: tax, visa and 2 places, patrician.ch/answers/moving-to-uae-from-the-us/, October 2026.
