Tommy Fleetwood has called Dubai home since 2022 and has spoken out about the reason why he relocated to the United Arab Emirates after his massive Tour Championship win in Atlanta
Tommy Fleetwood ended his winless streak in grand fashion at the TOUR Championship(Image: Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Tommy Fleetwood finally snapped his 163-event winless streak, winning the Tour Championship, with his eight-word statement after the fact speaking volumes.
Fleetwood has long pined for a PGA Tour win, and his quest to log his name in the history books ended at East Lake, holding off Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley en route to his first victory. At one point, a 𝓈ℯ𝓍 toy thrown onto the fairway threatened to ruin his focus, though it is clear the act did not sway the Brit from his goal.
With the star now notching his first-ever Tour win, which he hilariously admitted was “a shame,” the 34-year-old now will focus on what’s next, which could include returning home to Dubai. Fleetwood had been a tax resident in Dubai since 2022 and has spoken in the past about his decision to relocate to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“As a dad, I now tend to think of time in terms of ‘school years,’ so it’s been about a year and half since we moved here — or, as I would say, we’re in our second school year!” he began to Esquire Middle East in June 2024. “Dubai is a special place. Golf is very, very popular here, but there are also plenty of opportunities in the developmental side of things.
“I feel like golf, and the lessons you learn in golf, will help you succeed in any walk of life, so setting up the Academy and teaching kids is something I’ve always been interested in. Being here more permanently has definitely allowed me to further pursue that.”
What’s more, Fleetwood explained how living in the UAE was beneficial for him during the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, as he was able to essentially play at home.
Fleetwood will be celebrating his win in Dubai, his home since 2022(Image: Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
“I think it’s a rare opportunity and a rare thing for pretty much every one of us that we get to spend a week at home while playing in a tournament,” he shared in January 2023, per the European Tour. “I just love sleeping in my own bed. I love doing things in my own house.
“So it’s a bonus this week, absolutely is. Just kind of makes things that little bit more novel and comfortable, and no matter how much traveling you do, there’s nothing quite like being in your own home.”
For Fleetwood, living in Dubai also has its own set of financial perks, by way of taxation. By winning the Tour Championship, the Brit won $10 million and pushed his earnings this year to $18.5 million, second only to Scottie Scheffler.
As a resident of the UAE, Fleetwood would not have to pay any income tax when he returns to Dubai in due time.
That said, because Fleetwood won at East Lake, which is located in Atlanta, he will be classified as a non-resident alien and be liable for United States federal and state taxes.
Because he is not a permanent resident or citizen of the United States, he will have to pay a 30 percent withholding tax, which could be roughly $3 million from his winnings.
Additionally, because he resides in Dubai, it is currently unknown if Fleetwood will have to pay tax to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the tax system in the United Kingdom. If he did have to pay taxes, he could claim tax relief under the current UK-US tax treaty.
