As President Ruto rolls out his grand plan to send a million Kenyans to the diaspora in the next two to three years, let me offer a friendly nudge: if you are headed out, the UAE should be high on your list.
And not just because of the shiny malls, tax-free brunches, or the occasional photo op in front of the Burj Khalifa.
No, we are talking about something far more valuable than Instagram stories: the rare opportunity to build real, long-term wealth.
Having landed here myself, I can tell you firsthand this place is not just about earning a salary. It’s about unlocking a lifestyle that, if used wisely, could set you up for a life of financial independence.
Think of the UAE not as your destination, but as a well-lit runway. If you approach it strategically, you can take off.
Let’s start with the obvious golden goose: no personal income tax. That AED 10,000 salary? It’s all yours. Unlike other expat destinations where a significant slice of your salary goes to some distant tax authority, here every dirham you hustle for stays in your pocket.
And it does not stop with your paycheque, as my regular readers will be aware. The tax-free treatment applies to your investments too, no capital gains tax, no tax on dividends, no tax on investment income.
You want to buy shares in UAE-based companies? Do it. The stock market here has delivered an average return of nearly 10 per cent over the past decade. That’s real growth, with no taxman waiting to take a cut.
In short, the UAE gives you the kind of environment that your accountant back in Nairobi would call a miracle and your local bank would charge you for.
So what is the catch? Well, it is not permanent. You will not be here forever. Most of us come on contracts. One year becomes two, two becomes five, and before you know it, you are back in Nairobi or Nakuru, wondering where all the money went.
And if you were not careful or have not been reading my advice, high on debt (stay away from those credit cards). The truth is that high income does not guarantee wealth. Strategy does.
The point is simple, you will earn well in the UAE. But the question begs, where should it go? My answer—into smart, accessible investments.
The UAE’s financial infrastructure is not just advanced it is friendly. With three stock exchanges, it is easier here to invest across regional and international markets than it is to buy land in Rongai.
Banks like First Abu Dhabi Bank offer four per cent interest on fixed deposits, while Mashreq gives you up to six per cent on set-up savers.
These are solid, low-risk tools that beat inflation and all in a tax-free environment. Again, my regular readers will know how easy it is to access leverage tools to gear your investment or to access cheap cash flow to start that apartment block back home.
Feeling bolder? The real estate market has matured. You can now own freehold property in designated areas, and the Golden Visa (basically a 10-year-long residency visa) makes long-term planning real. Not ready for full-blown real estate?
There are REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) that let you tap into property without selling your soul. Or even the innovative fintech stake, which allows you to buy fractions of apartments and get real-time returns.
Likewise, platforms like Sarwa are making investing even easier. Think of it as your robo-financial advisor. It helps you put money into global ETFs, US stocks and mutual funds with almost zero paperwork. Less bank queues. More progress.
But all of this, your salary, your benefits, your investment options (my advice) means absolutely nothing if you do not have a system. Without a structure, even the best intentions leak through the cracks of lifestyle creep, last-minute expenses and spontaneous trips to the supermarket for things you did not know you needed.
Start with the 50/30/20 rule:
- Fifty per cent for your needs: rent, groceries, bills, school fees. It should not (read: must not) be more
- Thirty per cent for your wants: brunches, gadgets, holidays, the occasional “tuma fare”.
- Twenty per cent (and this is non-negotiable) goes to savings and investments. Treat it like rent for your future self.
If you wait to save what’s left over after spending, there will be nothing left over. Saving must happen first before the month starts plotting against your wallet.
Next, hedge your bets with currency diversification. Earning in dirhams is great, it stretches, it is stable and it is tax-free. But if your long game is to return home, whether to Nairobi, Eldoret or Nyeri, then you need a strategy that thinks in shillings too.
Systematically invest in home-based or internationally diversified assets. Do not just pray the forex rate behaves when you finally decide to repatriate your savings.
And finally, plan your return. Please, do not wing it. Start at least 12–18 months before you exit. Know what taxes apply when moving money.
Line up what investments to keep, what to liquidate, and when. Talk to professionals if you must—this is not the time for “tujaribu tuone.”
Look into global platforms that allow portable investing. Many allow you to stay invested, withdraw dividends or manage portfolios even when you are back sipping tea in Kikuyu.
That’s the dream, money working for you, across borders, long after the visa stamp fades.
Because the goal is not to come home broke but proud (summer bunnies, I see you). You are not just in the Gulf to earn. You are here to position yourself.
To build something. To create options for your future. So, by all means, enjoy the weather. Post the brunch photos. But do not leave this place with nothing but memories and receipts.
The Gulf is your window. Do not just look through it. Climb.
The writer is a Compliance, risk and fintech executive
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