For a certain slice of social media enthusiasts, Elle Brooke is a household name.
The 27-year-old former law student from Southampton abandoned university life years ago to pursue a career as a full-time influencer.
Today, she commands a following of millions across TikTok, Instagram, and X, but it’s her work on OnlyFans that truly drives her fortune.
Subscribers pay £22 a month for access to Brooke’s content, which includes explicit posts alongside glimpses of her luxury lifestyle, from lavish holidays to a brand-new £250,000 Bentley.
Fame, Fortune, and a Touch of Irony
Brooke has openly discussed her earnings, telling Piers Morgan she makes “six to seven figures a month” and famously quipping, “They can cry in a Ferrari!” when asked about what her future children might think of her career.
Yet, despite her high-profile online presence, she recently relocated to Dubai—a city known for its strict Islamic laws, where pornography is illegal and public displays of affection are heavily restricted.
Dubai: Tax Haven Meets Taboo
The move to the UAE was motivated primarily by taxes.
Brooke explained that moving to Dubai reduced her tax bill from roughly half of her income to almost nothing.
She’s not alone: many UK OnlyFans creators have relocated to the Emirates in recent years, drawn by its tax advantages despite the legal and cultural constraints.
Jordan Smith, founder of Rebel Management in Manchester, estimates that around a quarter of Britain’s adult content creators have made the move since 2023, when HMRC began cracking down on undeclared online earnings.
Making Money Behind Closed Doors
Dubai’s strict legal framework might suggest a difficult environment for adult content creators, but insiders explain that as long as influencers keep their work discreet, authorities largely turn a blind eye.
Agencies such as Elite OnlyFans Management, Banx Management, and Bunny Agency now maintain operations in Dubai, highlighting the city’s digital infrastructure and cosmopolitan atmosphere as perfect conditions for online entrepreneurship.
Navigating Banking and Legal Hurdles
However, operating from Dubai comes with unique challenges.
Local banks often refuse to process payments from OnlyFans’ parent company, Fenix International.
Creators and managers circumvent this by using online banking platforms or establishing companies in the UK to act as agents for Dubai-based operations.
Tax advisers like Joshua Tharby have even shown methods to legally funnel earnings while minimizing UK taxes, though this requires full relocation to the Emirates.
Risks and Dangers in the Shadow Economy
Despite the potential windfalls, Dubai presents significant risks.
Content creators are subject to strict cybercrime, privacy, and defamation laws, with arbitrary enforcement that can lead to arrest.
Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, warns that what seems harmless elsewhere could trigger legal action in the UAE.
Beyond legal threats, there are safety concerns: incidents involving influencers at high-end parties have led to injury and even death, highlighting the hidden dangers lurking behind the glamorous lifestyle.
The Hidden Reality Behind the Glitz
Stories like those of Maria Kovalchuk, a young Ukrainian model who was severely injured after attending a Dubai event, illustrate the dark side of this world.
While social media glamorizes wealth and luxury, the reality for some influencers can be perilous.
The line between opportunity and danger is thin, and the truth about many incidents may never fully emerge.
A Complex Digital Migration
The UAE’s combination of tax incentives and social media visibility has created a magnet for OnlyFans creators, but it is a complicated balancing act.
Influencers must carefully navigate legal, financial, and personal safety risks while producing content in a city where the law is strict but selectively enforced.
Dubai’s rise as a hub for adult content is a reflection of the global digital economy’s shifting landscape, where online fame and fortune collide with local law and culture.