# British restaurant groups expand into Gulf states amid UK tax pressures

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/no-unions-low-taxes-why-some-of-britains-top-chefs-are-opening-outposts-in-gulf-states/
- Published: 2026-10-24T11:00:31+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T11:17:31+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2026/oct/24/uk-tsunami-taxes-top-london-restaurants-expand-abroad
- Topics: Asia, Business, Culture, Food, UK, World

## Key points

- British restaurants are expanding into Gulf states.
- Fallow’s co-owner blames UK taxes and business conditions.
- Amnesty warns of poor worker protections in the UAE.

## Summary

Several prominent British restaurants are opening branches in Gulf states, with Fallow co-owner James Robson citing high UK taxes and more supportive business conditions abroad. The expansion matters because it highlights the pressure hospitality businesses say they face in Britain, while raising concerns about the rights of workers in the countries they are entering.

Fallow serves about 1,000 people a day and has agreed to open in the Gulf; other British names have opened in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. UK hospitality VAT is 20%, compared with a European restaurant average of about 12%, and Robson also points to corporation and dividend taxes. Amnesty International says migrant workers in the UAE face weak protections and cannot form trade unions, while some Dubai restaurants have struggled amid regional conflict.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.