Market Harborough Building Society Returns to the Expat Market in the EU
Market Harborough Building Society is once more opening up to brokers with expat British clients resident in the EU. They’re offering expat residential deals up to £5m (with rates starting from 5.2% fixed and 5.25% variable), with a range that includes interest-only and part-repayment options. Applicants will not need a multinational employer or UK residency to be eligible, and the building society aims to streamline the application process to reduce paperwork for brokers.
Expat Insider: Best Countries for Finance
The latest InterNations Expat Insider survey, one of the world’s largest studies on living and working abroad, has been released for 2025, with overall rankings as follows:
1. Spain
2. UAE
3. Panama
4. Austria
5. Luxembourg
6. China
7. Qatar
8. Czechia
9. Japan
10. Portugal
The Personal Finance Index within the Expat Insider survey is slightly different. It is based on three main factors, rated by expats on a scale of 1 (very bad) to 7 (very good):
- General cost of living
- Satisfaction with financial situation
- Whether disposable household income is enough to lead a comfortable life
The finance ranking is as follows:
1. Vietnam
2. Colombia
3. Panama
4. China
5. Thailand
6. Indonesia
7. Philippines
8. Mexico
9. Malaysia
10. Bali
In Panama, 35% of respondents are retired, and another 18% said they moved there with the intention of retiring. The country ranks third for satisfaction with personal finances, with 78% happy with their financial situation compared to 54% globally.
Colombia comes second, ranking third for cost of living, with many expats citing financial reasons for their move. Vietnam tops the list for satisfaction with personal finances: 89% of expats in Vietnam say their cost of living is good, and 87% report that their disposable income is enough or more than enough to live comfortably.
Other nations on the list also ranked highly for personal finance, with expats citing manageable costs and a high level of satisfaction with their financial situation.
The UK ranked very low — 45th out of 46 — along with Canada (last place), Finland, Türkiye, and Qatar.
Some countries, such as Cyprus and Malta, have risen in the rankings since 2024.
Saudi Lifts Ban on Foreign Ownership
Up until now, foreign investors have been allowed to own only a minority share of companies in Saudi Arabia, capped at 49%. This may soon change, according to Middle Eastern press reports from late September. Bloomberg reports that the Kingdom may soon allow foreigners to hold majority stakes in listed companies, a move that has greatly boosted the Saudi stock exchange. A board member of the Capital Market Authority has said that majority foreign ownership could come into effect before the end of this year.
This is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify its economy away from oil exports. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought to make the nation a global financial hub, and opening the market to foreign investment will be a major step toward achieving that goal.
Furthermore, a new law published in June 2025 allows non-Saudis to own or acquire real estate rights in various geographic zones across the country — including Mecca and Madinah, though restrictions will apply due to their religious significance. The law is due to take effect 180 days after publication, in January 2026. Foreigners will not need Saudi citizenship to purchase property. This initiative follows similar moves by other Gulf states.
Updates can be followed on the “Istitlaa” platform, which publishes public consultation news.
New Double-Tax Treaty Between Portugal and the UK
In September, Portugal and the UK signed a treaty updating their mutual taxation rules. Jake McLaughlin at DeVere Portugal told the press:
“This new treaty represents the first major overhaul of UK–Portugal tax cooperation in more than half a century. It’s designed to bring clarity, eliminate grey areas and modernise the rules for the way people actually live, work and invest today.”
The precise details of the treaty have yet to be released, but financial experts say it covers pensions and investment income. It will address issues around tax credits and adjustments to withholding tax limits on dividends, interest, and royalties.
McLaughlin added that small changes to pension tax treatment could translate into “big differences” in disposable income, and that expats in Portugal drawing income from UK-based pensions or investments should pay “very close attention” to developments.
However, he also noted that regulation between the two tax authorities will become tighter, with less room for error. Anyone with questions about the new legislation should consult a tax advisor.
Beckham’s Law Conference Under Threat of Cancellation
A two-day conference at the University of Seville was reportedly threatened with cancellation by the Spanish government, according to Amsterdam and Partners, a UK-based law firm challenging Spain’s Treasury over “Beckham’s Law.” The firm has been campaigning through its initiative Treasury Against the People, which recently ran a Financial Times ad describing the Spanish Tax Agency as “pickpockets.”
We reported on Robert Amsterdam’s initiative against the Spanish tax authorities back in March. Amsterdam says clients who came to Spain under “Beckham’s Law” — the informal name for the tax legislation allowing expats to be taxed at 24% on their first €600,000 — have faced relentless tax probes and have been told they cannot appeal until they pay the amounts allegedly owed.
It is unclear on what grounds the conference was threatened, or which part of the Spanish government was responsible, but it ultimately went ahead as planned.