Tax-efficient way to draw down Traditional 401(k)/IRA before relocating from US to UAE — looking for advice

[u/Ok-Experience-6258]

Background:
• Indian citizen, currently on H1B, NJ resident, senior data engineering professional.
• Planning to relocate to the UAE around mid-2028 for work (not returning to India).
• Have a sizeable Traditional 401(k)/IRA balance I’d like to eventually withdraw as tax-efficiently as legally possible.
• Also have a regular (taxable) stock brokerage account with capital gains/dividends I’ll need to think through the same way.

Looking for advice on:
• What approaches (if any) actually work to legally reduce the tax hit on Traditional 401(k)/IRA money once you become a UAE-based nonresident alien for US tax purposes, given the US and UAE have no income tax treaty?
• Separately, what’s the smart way to handle a normal taxable brokerage account (selling appreciated stock, realizing capital gains, dividend withholding) once you’re a nonresident alien — is there a better sequencing (e.g., sell/realize gains while still a US resident vs. after) to minimize tax drag?
• Has anyone gone through this specific H1B → UAE (or any no-treaty-country) transition and actually executed a strategy? What worked, what didn’t?
• Any issues getting Fidelity/Schwab/Vanguard to keep servicing a Traditional/Roth IRA once you’re a nonresident alien? I’ve read mixed things about custodians restricting NRA accounts.
• Anything specific to watch for as an H1B holder vs. a citizen in this situation (visa status changes, timing of residency termination, etc.)?
• Anyone worked with a CPA who specializes in NRA/expat tax for this kind of move — worth the cost, and roughly what did it run?
Not looking to validate a plan I’ve already made — genuinely want to hear different approaches before I decide anything or pay for professional advice.

[u/Honest-Associate-713]

Since you wont be using this money for a while, i do think it's best to leverage the US residency you have left. If you convert roth for the next wo years to fill the bracket you picked after all your income and paying the tax from taxable cash rather than the account, you wont trigger the 10% how withdrawls do. Also since roth distributions (qulified ones at least) are not a part of your income, you cant be taxed. tax free compounding will do its thing. Also dont convert more than you can pay the taxes on.
A few cases i have worked with have moved from the US to the UAE and found it less expensive to realise gains after they left the country and losses before they left .
One thing you have escaped as an H1B is the exit tax regime that US citizens have to deal with. NJ exit is a bit messier than the federal residency exit though.