Suppose you're a professional who's always dreamed of running your own business. In that case, freelancing might be the perfect career for you. But does it just mean that we can just do whatever and go wherever as long there are no laws against our doing so? Well...in some countries maybe!! The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country where you will need particular visas and permits- but what kind of restrictions will they have in place upon entering their borders-let alone working among them once you reside permanently or temporarily during any given period spent resident within those shores...?
You may be thinking, "I'm not sure if I want to work as a freelancer in the UAE", and if you need help deciding, you're about to find out why it is so beneficial and explore some of its legal perks.
What are you waiting for?! Let's get started!
If you've been researching becoming a freelancer, you may have heard the question, "Is freelancing legal in UAE?" This article will answer that and provide other helpful information for those considering coming to the UAE to start working as a freelancer.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many employers learned to hire experts and specialists to work for them remotely. Also, professionals understood there was no need to go into an office since clients can get remote access too which suddenly made freelancing more attractive and viable as a career option.
We all know the importance of an excellent work-life balance. But it turns out that you don't need to be in an office for eight hours every day, five days a week, if your goal is quality work whilst maintaining a good standard of work/life balance!!
The UAE is a great place to work as a freelancer.
This trend is not surprising, considering the many advantages of self-employment. The freedom and flexibility that allow professionals to find their own clients while doing what's best for themselves as an individual rather than following someone else's plan is far more appealing than a traditional 9-5 office job with a long commute.
Starting your career as a freelancer is becoming more and more popular. This has been shown by recent changes to policies that allow for this type of work, making it an excellent career choice with plenty of opportunities available!
In the UAE it is now legal to freelance. The government offers many benefits for those who wish, such as issuing visas and work environment incentives while maintaining a good business climate in which to work in.
A freelancer is someone who has created their own business and complies with the legal requirements to do so. They can be individuals, professionals or casual workers.
Freelancers are self-employed workers who can work with many clients compared to employees working under one employer's supervision.
Working as a freelancer is rising in the UAE, and lots of ex-pats want to take advantage. To work legally, you must have your own Freelancer Work Permit, which can be difficult for those who don't know the process where to start applying to get one.
The freelancer license is the ultimate way to establish your own legal identity. It's only obtained through a rigorous application process, but there are no limits on what kind of work can be done once you have it!
Once the person holds this license, they can do the following:
You may have been doing some research on becoming a freelancer in the UAE and might be wondering if it's allowed in the UAE?
In short, the answer is yes, but as long as you only offer your services are offered after obtaining the correct visas and permits.
Traditional employees normally receive visa sponsorship from an employer when working in Dubai. This is slightly different when it comes to freelancing as you won't be working for a single company. Luckily there are options available to you.
It's definitely worth bearing in mind that if you choose this route that you must obtain an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from your current sponsor to carry out freelancing.
Freelancing work is fully legal in the UAE so long you follow procedure to get your correct visa and permit. If you are wondering how you get your freelancer visas and permits then please read on to find out more!
Both residents and non-residents in the UAE are able to apply for a freelance visa. Below you will find the information required for each of these scenarios.
You don't have to get a new visa if you're a UAE resident or on your spouse's or parent's version of the freelancer permit. All that is required for this option and start work immediately after applying with no delays between approval stages means less waiting around!
If you're a full-time working professional with in demand skill, freelancing can be an option when getting your permit.
It is important to make a note that you will need proof of your relevant skills and permission from employers if you consider working as a freelancer for the application process.
To work in the UAE as a freelancer, you need to apply for your visa. The application process can be complicated if not done correctly, so to make sure everything is precise you should work with a company that has all the correct licenses like Easy Freelance. Otherwise, there's a strong chance that your freelance visa is not fully legal to carry out your work activity.
Some freelance visa providers operate under freezones which will limit your ability to work only within that freezone with limited activities. It is important that when you are trying to compare fully legal visa solutions that you make sure you don't limit your business and you make sure you are free to work anywhere within mainland UAE to maximise your chances of work.
When you finally decide to carry out your work as a freelancer, you will need to pay a fee for your visa and work permits. This is why it is important to make sure you have the right freelance visa solution so that there aren't any suprises or extra costs further down the road.
Freelance visa and permit requirements can be a bit tricky to understand, which is why you need to know the fees involved in obtaining any license. The cost of getting a freelance visa in the UAE varies considerably.
From our research fees can range anywhere from AED 2000 to AED 20500. You can see, this is a massive range! The general rule of thumb when wighing up visa options is that anything below AED 9,499 for a 1 year visa is probably either not fully legal which puts your residency and business at risk or it will not allow you to legally work across the whole mainland UAE. Easy Freelance monitors the prices of all fully legal mainland solutions and has the cheapest fully legal solution available.
To apply for a freelance visa in the United Arab Emirates, you'll need to complete an application and follow some general guidelines. The timeline will vary depending on the partner that you are working with. Still, it should take about 7 - 10 days from the start date until approval. There are some services like Easy Freelance that offer a VIP service to get your visa quicker but this will come at a slightly higher cost.
To get your freelance visa you will need to go through the following steps:
- Find and make an appointment with a freelance visa specialist like Easy Freelance.
- Attend a meeting and discuss all your options
- Work with your freelance sponsor company to submit your application and provide all the relevant documents and information. (At this point all providers will expect you to pay your fee).
- Undergo a medical test that proves you are fit enough to work as a freelancer.
- Get your freelance visa and you're ready to start work.
Once you get your visa you will also be able to arrange sponsorship of your family members. If this is something you are definitely considering for the future it is worth discussing your options when you meet with your freelance visa provider.
Though obtaining the necessary legal documentation for freelancing in Dubai can be complex, services like Easy Freelance help you.
Third-party organisations can provide several services to help you through the licensing process, including opening an account and handling additional procedures. You don't have to worry about visa or license applications since specialists on your team will care for them!
The results will be outstanding when you outsource your visa and freelancer license setup. It's a fantastic decision to explore options since experts can guide you through this process smoothly for you!
Many freelancers are looking for UAE visas, and as such, scammers have taken notice. Here's what you can do to reduce your exposure to the risks:
- A good freelance visa service provider will never ask you to lie about anything including your job title.
- Your service provider should be clear about their pricing and not keep adding extras than they already stated in their platform or service offering.
- If the price is cheap or too good to be true then there is a high probability that you will be working illegally.
This depends on the freelance visa that you have applied for.
There are many legal ways to work as a freelancer in the UAE. However, you must know where your services will be offered and if they're licensed for this particular area before getting started!
If you are on a freezone license this will restrict you to working in that area only. If you want to work anywhere on the mainland without restriction then service providers like Easy Freelance offer visas to allow you to do this.
It is important that your profession/activity is listed on your freelance visa but luckily there are over 150 activities that you can carry out.
Usually, education, creativity, fitness and media industries are the most popular catogories for freelancers. You can see a list of the top 20 freelancing professions in the UAE below:
Once you choose your business activity, you can apply for your license. Working as a freelancer can be an excellent decision to enjoy the flexibility and have an outstanding work-life balance.
If you need to talk through the process or want to discuss your options of becoming a freelancer, you can contact Easy Freelance to get help.
Easy Freelance will guide you through the process and you will be able to get your freelance career going in Dubai and across the entire UAE.
"Our team of specialists are always available to assist you and provide you with the best freelance visa solutions for mainland UAE. By working with Easy Freelance you can have the peace of mind that you will be working with a fully legal platform across the entire UAE." - Khawar Mann OBE, Co-Founder of Easy Freelance
.svg){kind=icon}
.svg){kind=icon}