The wave of high net worth individuals (HNWI) leaving the UK is driving a ‘surge’ in expat financial planning demand, according to Holborn Assets.

The UAE-based financial advice and wealth management firm reported a 35 per cent increase in online queries from British expats either preparing to relocate or that have recently moved abroad.

According to a report from Henley & Partners, around 16,500 millionaires will leave the UK in 2025, the largest exodus recorded by any country.

Many of these HNWIs are turning to the UAE, with the country drawing close to 10,000 new HNWIs each year amid a tax-friendly environment.

Holborn Assets said this shifting landscape was reshaping the expat advisory market.

"This is not a slow leak - it's an exodus,” said Holborn Assets COO, Simon Parker. “A growing number of wealthy Britons are leaving the UK and choosing the UAE and wider Gulf due to the UK's increasingly complex and punitive tax environment."

The demand for financial guidance has coincided with growing complexity in moving abroad.

Research from HSBC found that 45 per cent of people planning to relocate were unsure how to manage their finances internationally, while 59 per cent were concerned about taxation and compliance across borders.

Clients also increasingly wanted joined-up guidance on how to legally establish themselves in a new country.

"We're no longer just hearing from those who are already living and working overseas,” commented Holborn Assets CEO, Robert Parker.

“We are seeing more people seeking help before they move. It's a clear signal that financial planning is no longer an afterthought for expats.

“They want clarity on tax, pensions and long-term wealth - and they want it before they make mistakes."

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