Tier 1 Priority

Dubai expat pension transfer claims

More UK pension transfers were advised from Dubai than from any other overseas location. Route 4 civil litigation is the primary uncapped route — with the strongest legal foundation since the 2024 Court of Appeal ruling.

Check Whether You Have a Claim Time Limits Guide

Area Assessment

What happened in Dubai (UAE)

Dubai is the single largest hub globally for UK expat pension transfer advice. UK nationals in professional and technical roles with substantial UK pension savings made it the most concentrated market for QROPS, SIPP, and offshore bond transfer business worldwide.

The major advisory firms in the Dubai market — Holborn Assets, deVere Group, AES International, and Purley Financial — advised thousands of UK nationals to transfer their DB pensions. Typical CETVs for Dubai clients are substantially higher than the domestic UK average, often £400,000–£700,000.

The Court of Appeal's decision in Fletcher v Options UK [2024] EWCA Civ 541 has materially strengthened the legal basis for these claims. Route 4 civil litigation through our SRA-regulated solicitor partner panel is the primary route — fully uncapped. Route 2 FOS is assessed in parallel where UK jurisdiction applies.

Despite the scale of the Dubai market, the vast majority of affected clients have never complained.

Who this affects

UK nationals who lived in Dubai or the wider UAE and were advised to transfer their UK defined benefit pension into a QROPS, SIPP, or offshore bond structure.

Named Firms

Adviser Firms Linked to This Area

Each firm below has a dedicated claim page with route analysis, firm-specific FAQs, and current regulatory status.

Purely Financial / Purely Pensions Holborn Assets deVere Group AES International

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

I am no longer in Dubai. Does that affect my claim?

No. Your current location is irrelevant. Claims relate to the advice given at the time and the UK pension structures involved.

My adviser was not UK-regulated. Can I still claim?

Possibly. Many Dubai advisers used UK-regulated SIPP operators, which creates UK jurisdiction even where the adviser itself was not FCA-authorised.

My loss exceeds £85,000. Can the full amount be recovered?

Via Route 4 civil litigation — yes. Civil courts are uncapped. The FSCS limit does not apply to civil claims.

What is a QROPS?

A Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme is a pension scheme outside the UK that can receive UK pension transfers. Where a QROPS transfer was unsuitable, you may have a claim.

Urgent — Act Promptly

Time Limits Apply

⚠ Check Your Position Now

Whether your case is still open depends on when you first became aware of a potential problem — not simply when the transfer took place. The three-year discovery rule means some cases that appear old may still be within time.

View our full time limits guide →

Important Notice

Redress Advisory Ltd (Company No. 17295681) is a technology platform that provides case assessment and referral services. Redress Advisory is not a claims management company and is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as such. All regulated claims management activity and legal work is carried out exclusively by our Operating SRA Partner (OSP) solicitor firms, each of which is independently authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

You do not need to use Redress Advisory or a solicitor to pursue a pension mis-selling complaint. You can complain directly to the financial firm, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), or apply to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) yourself, free of charge. If you instruct a solicitor through our OSP partner panel, their fees will reduce any compensation you receive.

The information on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or regulated advice of any kind. Individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case.

FOS: 0800 023 4567 | FSCS: 0800 678 1100 | FCA Register: register.fca.org.uk