Jeremy Clarkson’s question about why anyone would start a business in Britain right now has struck a chord with some British entrepreneurs who have relocated to the Gulf.
The Clarkson’s Farm star made the remarks during the 2026 Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, where he discussed the pressures facing British farmers and business owners. Clarkson said he was considering opening a second pub outside the UK, citing the current business environment as a reason for looking overseas.
His comments have prompted UAE-based British business leaders to highlight what they see as differences between operating in Britain and building companies in the Gulf.
From Somerset to Dubai
Sebastian Bates, founder of the Warrior Academy, said his own experience reflects the contrast.
Bates launched his martial arts business in Somerset in 2015 before moving to Dubai in 2019 to expand the company.
The academy has since grown to four UAE locations, with approximately 60 employees and more than 2,000 children training each week, according to Arabian Business.
Reflecting on Clarkson’s comments, Bates said expanding his business in Britain often meant dealing with additional costs and regulations.
“I understand exactly why Jeremy Clarkson said it,” Bates told Arabian Business. “I started my business in Somerset and hired my first employee there in 2015, and I’m proud of that. But every time we grew, it felt like there was a new cost or a new rule waiting for us.”
Bates said his move to Dubai had provided a different environment for expansion, although he stressed that building the company had not been easy.
“Britain has not run out of entrepreneurs. It is exporting them,” he said, adding that he would like to see the UK provide stronger support for business owners.
‘The Door Is Open’ in Dubai
Justin McGuire, chairman of MCG Talent and founder of Justin McGuire Talent Advisory, also pointed to his experience in the UAE.
McGuire said he moved to Dubai in 2008 without clients or funding and built a business there.
“I’m British and proud of it, and I’m not disrespecting the UK at all,” McGuire said. “But if you’re asking why anyone would start a business, come and have a look here. The momentum is in the Gulf.”
He said establishing a company in Dubai can be relatively quick and argued that the region continues to offer opportunities for entrepreneurs.
At the same time, McGuire acknowledged that operating in the Gulf still comes with challenges, including difficulties around getting paid and the demands of running a business.
Why British Professionals Are Looking to the Gulf
The UAE has become an important destination for British professionals and entrepreneurs, with factors such as taxation, residency options and the business environment contributing to its appeal.
The broader movement has fueled debate in Britain over whether high costs, regulation and tax policies could encourage more entrepreneurs and wealthy individuals to relocate.
Clarkson’s comments came amid ongoing political debate over the UK’s approach to taxation and regulation. At the Conservative conference, he criticized the pressures facing farmers and businesses and questioned why entrepreneurs would choose to establish companies in Britain under current conditions.
A Wider Debate Over Britain’s Business Climate
The issue has also become part of the wider political debate under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government. Burnham became prime minister in July 2026.
Critics of the government’s economic approach argue that taxation, regulation and operating costs can discourage investment and entrepreneurship. Supporters of greater government intervention, meanwhile, argue that public investment and regulation are necessary to support workers, public services and long-term economic stability.
For British entrepreneurs already established in the UAE, however, the contrast is largely practical: where they believe it is easier to establish a company, attract talent and expand operations.
Clarkson has not said he plans to leave Britain permanently. His comments at the Conservative conference were specifically about considering an overseas location for a second pub, rather than relocating his entire business or personal life.
The discussion nonetheless highlights a broader question for Britain: whether its economic policies can create an environment that encourages entrepreneurs to build and expand at home, rather than looking increasingly toward faster-growing markets in the Gulf.
