Key points
- You can claim the UK State Pension while living in the UAE if you have paid enough National Insurance.
- You need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension, and at least 10 to get any.
- Yearly increases are paid only in certain countries, and the UAE is not among the groups listed by the government.
- If you return to live in the UK, your pension goes up to the current rate.
You can claim the UK State Pension while living in the UAE. Two things surprise people: how much they receive, and whether it rises each year.
How much you get
The full new State Pension needs 35 qualifying years of National Insurance, and you need at least 10 to get anything. Many expats have gaps from the years they worked abroad. Depending on your record, you may be able to fill some gaps with voluntary contributions, even from abroad, but not every gap is worth filling, and time limits apply. Check your forecast on the government website before paying anything.
Claiming from abroad
- You can claim within about four months of your State Pension age.
- You claim through the International Pension Centre, by contacting them or sending the international claim form.
- You choose one country for payment. You cannot split the year between two.
- It can be paid into a bank in the country where you live or into a UK bank account.
Does it go up each year?
According to the government, yearly increases are paid only if you live in the European Economic Area, Gibraltar, Switzerland, or a country with a social security agreement with the UK that allows increases. Canada and New Zealand are excluded even though they have agreements. The UAE is not among the groups the government lists, so a pension paid there normally stays at the level set when you first claim or move.
That detail matters. Over a retirement of 25 or 30 years, a flat payment loses a lot of buying power. Check the government's current list before you plan around it, because lists can change.
What if you return to the UK?
If you come back to live in the UK, your pension goes up to the current rate. If you may return, plan for both outcomes.
What this means for your plan
- Treat it as a smaller, flat income rather than one that keeps pace with prices.
- Fund the gap with private pensions and investments.
- Run the numbers in our retirement calculator, using a lower State Pension figure to see the effect.
Sources and checks
- GOV.UK, State Pension if you retire abroad: claim and rates
- GOV.UK, check your State Pension forecast