Dubai'S Double Standards: Why Onlyfans Stars Like Elle Brooke Are Flocking To The City Of Sin

Dubai's Unexpected Allure for OnlyFans Stars

Hey there, darlings, let’s talk about a place where the sand is hot, the laws are strict, but the loopholes? Oh, they’re downright seductive. Dubai, the shimmering jewel of the United Arab Emirates, is known for its towering skyscrapers, lavish lifestyle, and - get this - some of the strictest Islamic laws around. Pornography? Illegal. Public displays of affection? A big no-no. Yet, somehow, this desert paradise has become the go-to destination for OnlyFans influencers looking to cash in big time.

Take Elle Brooke, for instance. This 27-year-old British bombshell ditched law school at Southampton University to become a full-time ‘influencer.’ Now, with 2.3 million TikTok followers, a million on Instagram, and 1.2 million on X, she’s a digital superstar. But the real money? It’s on OnlyFans, where subscribers shell out £22 ($29.99) a month for her steamy content. And guess where she’s living the high life? Yep, Dubai - complete with a £250,000 Bentley sporting UAE plates and a house near an exclusive golf course.

Elle’s not shy about her reasons for the move. During a chance chat at the airport luggage carousel, she spilled the tea: ‘I came here because of my tax bill. It’s gone from half of everything I earn to almost nothing.’ And with her flaunting luxe holidays and fancy dinners on social media, it’s clear she’s living the dream - tax-free and unapologetic.

Tax Havens and Turned Blind Eyes

But Elle’s not the only one trading rainy Britain for Dubai’s golden sands. According to Jordan Smith, the 30-year-old founder of Rebel, a Manchester-based management company for OnlyFans creators, about a quarter of Britain’s adult stars have relocated to the Gulf in the last two years. The trend kicked off around 2023, when the UK’s HMRC started cracking down on influencers dodging taxes, sending out 4,000 letters and teaming up with OnlyFans’ parent company, Fenix International, to track earnings.

‘A lot of creators got investigated and hit with fines,’ Jordan dished. ‘Some of my models were literally asking, “What’s tax?” So, moving to Dubai became the solution.’ At events like the UK Glamour Awards - think of it as the Brit Awards for adult entertainment - he estimates one in four attendees now calls Dubai home. And with the city’s status as a tax haven, who can blame them?

‘As long as you keep your head down and don’t clash with the locals, they pretty much turn a blind eye,’ Jordan confided, hinting at Dubai’s unspoken ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.

A Paradox of Rules and Risqué Business

Now, let’s get real - making a living off explicit content in a country where sex outside marriage was only decriminalized in 2021 isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Dubai’s legal system, rooted in Sharia law, bans everything from blasphemy to adultery, and public affection can still land you in hot water. Yet, agencies like Elite OnlyFans Management and Banx Management are setting up shop there, with the Bunny Agency even hyping ‘The Unique Dubai Advantage’ for digital entrepreneurs.

They’re not wrong about the perks - high internet penetration, a cosmopolitan vibe, and, since earlier this year, an ‘influencer golden visa’ offering up to ten years of residency for social media stars. Endorsed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid himself, the scheme aims to attract 10,000 content creators to promote Dubai as a tourist and business hub. But here’s the catch: while it’s meant for travel and lifestyle bloggers, many influencers rely on platforms like OnlyFans to afford the city’s glitzy lifestyle.

Workarounds are everywhere. Online forums buzz with tips from local creators, like using VPNs to access blocked sites and setting up online banks like Paxum since Dubai banks won’t touch OnlyFans payments. Some even create dual companies - one in the UK to accept funds, another in Dubai as an ‘agent’ - to dodge taxes entirely, as tax adviser Joshua Tharby recently boasted on YouTube.

The Dark Side of Dubai’s Glittering Facade

But before you pack your bags and book a one-way ticket, let’s talk about the flip side, because where there’s sex and money, there’s often danger. Radha Stirling of Detained In Dubai warns that influencers risk prosecution under the UAE’s strict cybercrime and privacy laws. ‘Enforcement is arbitrary,’ she cautions. ‘No one should assume they’re safe.’

Then there are chilling stories. Former Love Island star Tyne-Lexy Clarson (not on OnlyFans) revealed to the BBC she was offered £50,000 for a five-day ‘party’ trip to Dubai with rich men, complete with a shady NDA. Another, Rosie Williams, was tempted with £100,000 a year to be a ‘companion.’ And the tragic cases of Monic Karungi, a Ugandan influencer who fell to her death in 2022, and Maria Kovalchuk, a Ukrainian OnlyFans model left in a wheelchair after a brutal incident near Palm Jumeirah in March, highlight the risks lurking behind the glamour.

Maria’s story is particularly haunting - missing for ten days, found with a broken spine and limbs after fleeing an abusive event, only for police to delay requesting CCTV until it was erased. Like so much in Dubai’s uneasy dance with OnlyFans and its thousands of creators, the full truth often remains buried beneath the desert sands. So, while the city might wink at risqué business, it’s a gamble - and not everyone comes out a winner.