Portugal’s new nationality law has been temporarily paused. The legislation, passed in late October 2025, aimed to extend the residency requirement for citizenship from 5 years to up to 10 years. But after pushback from lawmakers and legal experts, the country’s Constitutional Court is now reviewing the changes. A final ruling is expected by mid-December 2025. The pause means the law is not yet in effect. For now, the current five-year rule still applies to those seeking Port

The UK Autumn Budget, delivered in November 2025, was one of the most closely watched fiscal statements in years for high-net-worth individuals, British expatriates, non-doms, and international investors. With public finances under pressure and the government openly shifting toward heavier taxation of wealth, capital, and property, many feared that the UK would introduce a formal exit tax on people leaving the country. That did not happen.

Portugal’s recent amendments to its Nationality Law have once again drawn public attention, following the Socialist Party’s (PS) decision to request a preventive review by the Constitutional Court. This uncommon move in Portugal’s political landscape has drawn immediate attention from investors, long-term residents, and thousands of Golden Visa applicants—many of whom are waiting for final confirmation on when their five-year naturalisation period officially begins.

For high-net-worth (HNW) international investors navigating multi-jurisdictional wealth, the conversation around universal life insurance vs offshore bonds has become increasingly important. At Global Investments, we advise clients across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and offshore jurisdictions who are balancing cross-border assets, shifting tax rules, currency volatility, and long-term legacy planning.

The upcoming Autumn Budget carries particular significance. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under mounting pressure to raise £22 billion — a figure that strongly suggests policy changes may be on the horizon. Unsurprisingly, speculation is building over what the Budget might contain and how those measures could impact expats and international investors alike. For UK expats and international investors, this Budget represents far more than a domestic event.

On October 28, 2025, the Portuguese Parliament approved a set of amendments to the Nationality Law that, if enacted, will significantly alter the timeline and process through which foreign residents — including Golden Visa holders — may apply for Portuguese citizenship. While these changes do not modify the Golden Visa (ARI) residency program itself, they reshape the long-term pathway to citizenship for investors who hold, have applied for, or are considering applying for a G

In today’s globalised world, sophisticated investors are increasingly looking beyond traditional investments toward holistic wealth-structuring solutions that can protect assets, provide liquidity, and create generational continuity. One such solution is Universal Life Assurance (ULA) — a powerful, flexible life policy that integrates long-term protection with investment-linked growth and estate-planning efficiency.

Global markets are calm. Stocks are rallying. Emerging economies are borrowing again. Gold is glittering. If you only skimmed the headlines, you’d think 2025 is the year the global economy found its rhythm again. But buried inside the IMF Global Financial Stability Report 2025  is a far more unsettling message — one that could reshape how investors see this “golden” period. The IMF calls today’s market calm “uneasy.”  And for good reason: what looks like resilience might actu

When U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans late last week to impose 100 percent tariffs on Chinese imports, global markets moved as if an entirely new trade war had begun overnight. The statement, delivered after China expanded its own export controls on rare-earth minerals, set off a swift chain reaction across equity markets. By Friday’s close, the S&P 500 had dropped 2.7 percent and the Nasdaq Composite fell 3.6 percent — their sharpest single-day losses since April.

For the first time in history, gold prices have crossed the $4,000 per ounce mark. This milestone reflects a remarkable transformation in the global investment landscape. Less than two years ago, gold traded below $2,000 — a level that now seems distant. As of early October 2025, spot gold has surged more than 54% year-to-date, climbing alongside growing unease about the U.S. government’s fiscal situation and the recent government shutdown.

This guide outlines the key taxes affecting property owners and investors — including Stamp Duty (SDLT), Income Tax on rent, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Inheritance Tax (IHT), ATED, and local levies such as Council Tax and Business Rates. It summarises the latest 2024–2025 changes and explains how these impact individuals, companies, and non-residents, helping you plan purchases, ownership, and disposals more effectively in a rapidly evolving tax landscape.

In August 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that effectively doubled tariffs on many Indian exports — raising duties on certain goods from 25 % to as high as 50%. For Indian exporters whose largest overseas market is the U.S., this move is a seismic disruption. The stakes are high: reduced margins, loss of competitiveness, and even risk of losing market share.

Dubai’s commercial real estate sector has entered a period of unprecedented strength. With record-low vacancy rates, surging foreign direct investment (FDI), and government policies that continue to attract international businesses, the emirate is positioning itself as a uniquely resilient and lucrative market for investors. In Q2 2025 alone, commercial property sales reached AED 31 billion ($8.4bn)—a 50% increase year-on-year—with the office segment recording AED 2.62 billio

Gold has entered uncharted territory in 2025. Spot prices surged to a record $3,527 per ounce in early September, fueled by expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts, central bank accumulation, and rising geopolitical uncertainty.

Artificial Intelligence has moved far beyond buzzwords and speculative hype. It is now one of the most powerful forces shaping global financial markets, influencing valuations, shifting investor sentiment, and rewriting competitive dynamics across industries.

Recent government figures show that Inheritance Tax (IHT) collections jumped by £200 million, reaching £3.1 billion between April and July 2025—up 6.9% from the year before—a clear sign of fiscal drag, as asset values outpace frozen tax thresholds. 

The Bank of England cut base rate to 4% on August 7, 2025, marking its fifth reduction in a year. This decision, made by a narrow 5–4 vote within the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), highlights growing concern over the fragile state of the UK economy amid soaring food prices and rising unemployment.

Offshore finance involves using financial services or structures located outside one’s country of residence. These may include offshore bank accounts, companies, trusts, or investment vehicles based in international jurisdictions. While often surrounded by misconceptions, offshore structures are entirely legal when established and used responsibly.

A total of 18,010 sale transactions were recorded in April 2025, marking an 18.3% increase from March and a 55.1% year-on-year rise. This sets a new April record—28% higher than the previous peak in April 2009—highlighting the market’s continued momentum and depth. The sharp annual increase is partly attributable to a low base in April 2024, when severe rainfall and flooding disrupted activity for several days, reducing transaction volumes that month and exaggerating year-on-

Global cryptocurrency investments are under unprecedented scrutiny as governments, regulators, and tax authorities pivot their focus towards transparency and accountability in the digital economy. The rapid rise of crypto—from Bitcoin to DeFi, NFTs, and stablecoins—has transformed the financial landscape, empowering investors to diversify portfolios, access new markets, and build wealth outside of traditional banking channels.