Checkmate
While I agree that chasing the bucks shouldn't be the main priority, your comparison is slightly flawed. For a start, you said your kids were educated at a state school. Fair enough, but the inference is that they no longer live at home therefore living in a 'modest 200k flat' can work if there's just you & the missus. With a family, it can't, especially for what's available for 200k on the South Coast!!!! A quick search on 'right move' with a 200k price input might surprise many unfamiliar with the current UK property market in the South of England.
I'm all for a fair argument but please let's keep it real. 170 to 5 is merely pointing out that if you want to achieve anything approaching a similar lifestyle in the UK as in Dubai, you're going to need a bloody good salary before tax takes a big bite.
.....and not all of us have, or even want maids!
what-to-do
So why are you still in Dubai, or have you forgotten to update your location?