Just a few short weeks ago, if you’d stumbled across an influencer online boasting of ‘life abroad’, it would almost have been guaranteed their overseas destination of choice was none other than Dubai.
But as the Middle East war continues to cause havoc across the UAE, where can these unfortunate souls seeking to make a living amid backdrops of sunshine and luxury head instead?
With Dubai’s so-called ‘influencer exodus’ seeing stars fleeing the emirate, the hundreds of glamorous, young things who live there may be looking for an alternative.
So, where are the best places for content creators, influencers and online stars to work and play – outside of the Middle East?
Here’s our guide to some of the tax-free, glamorous, sunshine-filled options providing the same glitz and glamour – but far away from the ongoing violence…
Cayman Islands
This British Overseas Territory offers a tax-free and beachside lifestyle.
The region boasts a high standard of living coupled with a low crime rate and Caribbean climate.
It’s also known for its fun, vibrant lifestyle, with boat parties galore revolving around Seven-Mile Beach and George Town, the biggest town and business hub of the Cayman Islands – features which are sure to appeal to the Instagram-minded.
It also has tax advantages: no corporation, income, capital gains or inheritance taxes.
Influencer Merle Wisse lives in the Cayman Islands, sharing details of her lifestyle – and raving about it, from enjoying prosecco and pilates on the beach with her friends to soaking up rays in the sunshine.
In one clip, @merlewisse says: ‘So here’s the deal. Ten months ago I quit my job, said goodbye to all my friends and family and moved to a tropical island.’
In another video by @seecayman, Merle encourages others to be like her – and start over with a tropical island life.
Bermuda
If you like the sound of the Caribbean, Bermuda could be the choice for you.
Bermuda is the oldest self-governing British Overseas Territory, and is popular among many Brits.
Former Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge and her husband Wayne partied on a boat in Bermuda last year, living the high life in the sun.
Bermuda’s big advantages? Security, safety and a high standard of living – plus the lack of income tax or capital gains tax.
You can visit Bermuda without a visa for up to 180 days in any 12-month period. You must have a ticket for return or onward travel.
To stay longer or work, study, travel for business or other reasons, you must meet the Bermudian government’s entry requirements.
If you want to work in Bermuda, you must get a job offer and work permit before you enter the country. You must not look for work while visiting as a tourist.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a major hub for influencers and celebrities – not least because of its tax incentives.
Jake Paul, an American professional boxer and influencer who moved to Puerto Rico in 2021, reportedly resides in Dorado, Puerto Rico, in a 12,000 sq-foot mansion worth around $16million (£12million).
Jake has previously proudly showcased the Puerto Rican flag during sports events.
He’s not the only one drawn in by the budget-friendly lifestyle and tax incentives of Puerto Rico.
But not everyone is happy about it.
Bad Bunny released a documentary in 2022 – El Apagón – Aquí Vive Gente – which explores the gentrification and displacement of local Puerto Ricans caused by wealthy outsiders moving to the island under tax incentive programs.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
In 2021, Kuala Lumpur was named the world’s top city to live in for expats, with expats praising the local culture and the affordability and ready availability of housing.
Since then, even more influencers have flocked to the Malaysian city.
One American expat said: ‘I love the culturally diverse environment of Kuala Lumpur. The overall friendliness of Malaysians makes it the best place to retire.’
Meanwhile, US-based artist and social media content creator Angela Nikolau recently visited the city.
During her trip, she paid a visit to Merdeka Tower, the second highest in the world – and a favourite among travellers seeking to get impressive Instagram snaps.
Merdeka 118 is a staggering 2,227ft (678.9m) tall – more than double the height of London’s Shard, which is 1,017ft (310m) high.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali has fast gained a reputation as the ‘influencer capital of the world’ – and is showing no signs of slowing down.
It is in the midst of an impressive tourism boom, welcoming around 7million international arrivals in 2025 – with visitors and residents alike singing its praises.
Influencer Samie Elishi last year posted a snap of herself to her Instagram Stories with the caption: ‘Cheers bbys, I luv Bali’.
She made the confession after Molly-Mae’s sister was mocked for leaving Bali for Dubai after just 48 hours due to being disappointed – hitting the headlines last summer.
Samie shared more pictures of herself in Canggu, Bali, Indonesia – one captioned: ‘Just a girl and her coconut,’ alluding to the island lifestyle.
Meanwhile, content creator Liam Etheridge (@liametheridge2) said that he was drawn in because of his love of beaches – and it didn’t disappoint.
He said: ‘A lot of people are asking at the moment if Bali is worth going to if you’re travelling around SE Asia. My simple answer for this is yes. The reason why I wanted to come here was purely because I love beaches.
‘So the beaches in Bali are absolutely insane… There’s so much to do here. You can hike for sunrise, volcanoes.
‘And then you’ve also got the waterfalls. So if you enjoy all of that then Bali is definitely worth the trip.’
Miami, Florida
Make like the Beckhams and head for Florida’s most glam metropolis – where botox is routine, consumerism is a favourite sport and taxes are more favourable.
The world’s most upscale hotel brands are all here and, thanks to its tropical climate, Miami’s skies are almost always blue – the retractable roof on your Porsche will be more down than up.
It’s true, opinions are divided on Miami, with some arguing it’s a top-tier destination known for its Michelin-starred restaurants and Art Deco culture.
Others swear it’s merely a playground for the faux wealthy who want to see and be seen.
But the city’s economy is buoyant, making it a great option for influencers on the hunt for a Dubai dupe.
One wealthy Miami influencer Carlos Nunez, 27, has more than 12 million followers on TikTok and has gone viral for frequently showcasing his luxury cars, homes and vacations – one of which was recently stolen, hitting the headlines.
Other prominent stars who have called Miami home include Shakira, Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé.
Shanghai, China
Enter Shanghai, a destination with all the skyscrapers and luxurious malls of Dubai and Abu Dhabi – but without the need to fly via the Middle East.
Like its Middle Eastern counterparts, there are spotless streets and gleaming skyscrapers , with many an expat working out of the Bund, Shanghai’s glistening waterfront, which is home to British-built hotels, banks and the Custom House.
While Shanghai is a much older city than Dubai, the prevalance of skyscrapers shows why it’s easy to compare the two.
You can make plenty of savings, too, with a lower cost of living in Shanghai, according to price comparison site Versus.
A meal at a mid-range restaurant in Dubai costs $81.68 (£61) and in Shanghai just $35.38 (£26.50), while an inexpensive one will cost $10.89 (£8.15) and $4.25 (£3.18) respectively.
And like Dubai, there’s plenty of shopping on offer, with luxurious centres including IFC Mall and IAPM Mall.
Shanghai is even more popular than Dubai, with an 8.6/10 rating on Versus in comparison to Dubai City’s 8.4.
One Shanghai-based influencer, Jay Ma, has even created an online profile by pretending to be the son of a Chinese billionaire, and heir to shopping powerhouse Alibaba, and heir to shopping powerhouse Alibaba.
Reviews rave about the city, with one describing it as the ‘best mega city in China’, adding: ‘There are lots of different styles of food, not very high price if you can afford an airplane ticket as a foreigner.’
A second wrote: ‘The New York of Asia. It is a melting pot of expats from a diversity of origins, age groups, industries, great communities, fascinating skylines, global food options available, vivid art scenes, strong history and heritage, new infrastructure and museums, and efficient transportation systems.’
Monaco
Billionaire’s paradise Monaco is, naturally, next up on the list.
Adored by the stars of F1, international businessmen and many other celebrities and influencers, it’s a haven known for its lavish lifestyle and glamorous hotels.
Charles Leclerc and his influencer partner Alexandra Saint Mleux recently married in Monaco – with all the bells and whistles you might expect.
With high-end shopping and Michelin-starred restaurants, casinos and beach clubs galore, it has more millionaires per square metre than anywhere else.
More than 2,800 British nationals officially reside in Monaco.
The lack of income tax, wealth tax and capital gains tax are big draws – as well as the fact that when passing on assets, spouses and children do not pay inheritance or gift tax.
Charleston, South Carolina
Perhaps best-known as the location of many of the scenes in classic romcom The Notebook, Charleston has more to offer than just pretty backgrounds.
Architectural Digest revealed that a large number of content creators are moving to the South Carolina city.
Sarah Baus, a TikToker and content creator from Charleston, told the publication in 2024: ‘I’ve definitely noticed an increase in influencers in the city.’
Many move to the city as a result of its beauty and charm – not necessarily as a business move, but as a result of a love of the city.
Charleston-based influencer Lauren Loveless shared a clip of her life in Charleston, highlighting the outdoorsy lifestyle.
One comment on the video said: ‘You can’t beat sun, boats, and seafood.’
Another added: ‘Looks sooo beautiful there!’
Byron Bay, Australia
Sydney and Melbourne are old news – beloved by influencers, sure, but with a price tag to match.
That leaves a gap for up-and-coming Australian locations to fill, and Byron Bay, along with the Gold Coast, are ready to step up to the challenge.
There was even a 2022 Netflix series released titled Byron Baes – which explores the life of Australian influencers who flock to Byron Bay for its warm, beachy beauty and cool, creative vibe.
Montenegro
Vistas don’t come much prettier than Boka Bay on Montenegro’s sultry riviera, a glamorous collision of fjord-like scenery and rising mountains.
Thanks to its yacht lifestyle, increasingly sleek architecture – funded by big-spending Russians – and appetite for all things bougie, this polished portion of the Balkan country is fast becoming a hotspot for those who speculate to accumulate.
It has some stellar fans too; tennis star Novak Djokovic owns several villas in the eastern European country, one of which Queen Camilla is reported to have stayed in.
The sporting icon is regularly seen training at the uber-luxurious Portonovi complex, which has become a bougie enclave for expats, with its private villas and ‘world-class’ marina.
One&Only, one of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands, also has a property here – with rooms coming in at at around £1,200 a night.
Macao, China
Dubbed the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’, Macao has something that the Middle East definitely doesn’t – the chance to bet the night away.
It is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal, and so hedonism has thrived in this tiny region on the country’s south coast.
What can expats expect if they live here? Plenty of Dubai-style razzle dazzle; the architecture is bold, following the ‘more is more’ mantra.
Last month, The Grand Emperor Hotel revealed the ‘golden pathway’ it had laid in 2006 – paved using genuine gold bars – had been sold for $13million (£9.8million) to cash in on the soaring prices of the precious metal.
That it was there in the first place tells you all you need to know about Macau.
Macao even hosted Creator Week 2025 – a five-day international festival hosting the globe’s most innovative influencers, including lifestyle content creator Reggie Martin, 47, who was raised in Chicago but has spent the last 25 years in Hong Kong.
Panama City, Panama
Arguably Central America’s most cosmopolitan city, those in the market for some Latino fun might fancy Panama City.
This vibrant metropolis has become a new home for thousands of expats from around the globe thanks to the commerce – and its use of the US dollar – that exists within its sprawling skyline.
And should you need to hop to New York or Miami for business, it’s only a short plane ride away.
Add in tropical beaches and luxury apartments with a city panorama for around £1,800 a month, and it’s an easy, breezy way to tap into the high life.