Scrambled Eggs, Safe Havens and Short-term Lets

Over scrambled eggs in Mayfair at a private client breakfast this morning, the conversation turned, as it often does these days, to the Iran, US and Israeli war and the implications for the wider GCC.

What made the discussion interesting was how quickly advisors moved beyond the headlines and got to the real, personal impact of these geopolitical disruptions. In a room like that, the focus is always practical. How families respond in the short term. What flexibility is available. How those short-term decisions sit alongside longer-term planning, particularly when questions of residence, tax planning and schooling are already a key part of the conversation.

Over the past week I have been hearing similar themes elsewhere. From clients, from colleagues on the ground in the UAE and across the wider GCC, in expat forums, and in the wider media. Despite certain publications’ best efforts, there remains a strong sense of attachment and safety within the UAE. For many families, businesses and individuals, it firmly remains home.

The Financial Times touched on that balance in its recent piece, “In the centre of the storm: what does the Iran war mean for Dubai?”, describing a city watching events closely while continuing to project and sustain stability and normality.

Some families, particularly those with the flexibility to do so, have chosen to spend time elsewhere for a period, often in Europe, while they watch how events develop. In many cases, this is simply about creating space for the time being rather than signalling any more permanent change.

For those with children, even a short period away from their usual base can create immediate practical questions. If schooling becomes disrupted, even briefly, how do you maintain continuity without rushing wider decisions?

This is where residential tutors often come into the conversation. When families are dividing time between locations or relocating temporarily, residential support can provide not only stability, but an exceptionally high standard of education. It is also something we provide for families who want learning to continue uninterrupted while wider plans take shape.

London has naturally been part of the same discussion. For many international families, it is the obvious place to land for a period. Familiar, well connected, and for those already tied into the British education system, relatively easy to mobilise around. Yesterday morning’s article in The Times reported increased demand for luxury short-term rentals in London from UAE residents, with the attention falling, as one might expect, on high-end lets.

From an education perspective, that development raises another question: what happens to schooling while families are spending time in London?

For many international families, the answer lies in private tuition. London remains one of the strongest places in the world to arrange that kind of support. The depth of experienced tutors across curricula, exams and SEN is exceptional.

Treberys Private has been supporting several families in exactly this position, working with some of London’s finest tutors so that children maintain academic structure while plans remain fluid. In some cases this supports remote learning which, even after our 2020 dress rehearsal, can still cause disruption.

What the past week has highlighted again is how closely education sits alongside wider planning. Where a family spends a period of time, be it Dubai, London or a few weeks in the Med, children still need academic stability and momentum.

These world events, as challenging and increasingly frequent as they seem to be, also prompt broader reflection. Longer conversations about where families feel most settled and at home, how they plan for major decisions and transitions, and how all the moving parts can be tied together coherently.

For families spending time in London or abroad for now, well-matched tuition or residential support can provide continuity while those larger questions take shape.