Freelancing is fast growing in popularity the world over. In the\nUS, one in three workers is freelance and it is predicted that more than half\nthe population will take part in the gig economy within the next few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\nis a similar picture in Europe. In a 2016 Eurostat survey, over 30m people aged\nbetween 15 and 64 reported as self-employed \u2013 accounting for 14% of total\nemployment. The UK alone saw a 31% increase in freelance workers last year,\nbringing the total number to 4.8m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\nin the UAE, while statistics are slightly harder to come by, we are seeing a\nsimilar trend. Businessmentals, a Dubai-based freelancer consultancy, reports a\ngrowing number of people freelancing across the whole of the UAE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile,\ntwo-thirds of users registered with Nabbesh, the largest freelance marketplace\nin the Middle East, are based in the UAE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If\nyou want to be part of this thriving market, you\u2019ll find \u2013 with the right\nsupport \u2013 that getting set up is both easy and affordable. Here\u2019s everything\nyou need to know about freelancing in the UAE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How\nTo Apply For A Freelance Permit In Dubai<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Freelancing\nin Dubai has not always been a viable career choice. Strict business licensing\nand visa regulations previously made the process complex if at all possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This\nis no longer the case, however. Now all that\u2019s required to start freelancing is\na freelancer license \u2013 also known as a UAE freelancer permit \u2013 and a freelance\nvisa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To\nget your license, you need to apply to a UAE free zone that offers a freelance\noption. There are now several that offer very affordable license packages that\ninclude use of office facilities and visa eligibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting\nup in a free zone is arguably the most cost-effective way to do business in the\nUAE. As well as affordable license and service fees \u2013 along with the UAE\u2019s 0%\ntax rate \u2013 you\u2019ll also benefit from the ability to repatriate all profits to\nyour country of origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To obtain your permit, you will need to provide some\ndocumentation along with your completed application form. This will usually\ninclude a copy of your passport and residency visa (if you already have one), a\nbank reference letter and some examples of your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If\nyou are already in employment in the UAE and applying for a freelance permit,\nyou may also be required to provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your\nemployers, though this is not required by all free zones. Alternatively, you\ncan apply for a new visa as a freelancer \u2013 but more on that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When\nmaking your application, you\u2019ll be required to list your intended business\nactivities. Freelancer permits are issued for a range of professions, from arts\nand education through to media and tech. To ensure that your license activities\nalign with your intended business practices, it\u2019s best to work with a company\nformation specialist at this stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How\nTo Apply For A Freelance Visa In Dubai<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As\nwell as applying for your UAE freelancer permit, you\u2019ll also need a visa to do\nbusiness in the UAE. If you already have a residency visa through your\nemployer, you\u2019ll need to provide proof of this when you apply for your permit.\nIn some cases, you may be required to request an NOC from your current\nemployer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively,\nyou can apply for a visa in your own name as part of your freelancer permit\napplication. The application process follows the same steps \u2013 entry permit\nthrough to visa stamping. You\u2019ll also need an Emirates ID and will have to\nundertake a medical before your application is approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once\nyou hold your own visa, you are able to sponsor dependants for theirs too. This\ncould be your spouse, a child or parent, or domestic staff such as a\nhousekeeper or driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At\nthis stage, you can also apply for your corporate bank account. This isn\u2019t\nalways easy in the UAE, so it\u2019s best to work with a local expert who can put\nyou in touch with the right bank to suit your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking\nFor The Cheapest Freelance Visa In Dubai?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If\nyou\u2019re looking for the cheapest freelance visa in Dubai, you don\u2019t need to look\nvery far. Freelance visas and freelance permits can be obtained even on modest\nbudgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though\nthe exact outlay will depend on factors such as your chosen free zone, you\nshould estimate the UAE freelance visa cost at around AED 3,250. Add this to\nthe cost of your freelance permit \u2013 around AED 7,500 \u2013 and it\u2019s clear that\nsetting up as a freelancer is one of the most affordable ways to get started in\nthe UAE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find\nYour Freedom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n More\nand more people in the UAE are discovering the freedom of freelancing. In fact,\nresearch by Nabbesh shows that seven out of ten people in the region are either\nalready doing it or giving it serious consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s\nnot hard to see why. The same Nabbesh survey found that almost two-thirds of\nworkers in the MENA region freelance because it offers a better work-life\nbalance than being in employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freelancing\nallows you to work to your own schedule, take on the tasks you want and have\ntotal control and autonomy over your career. And it\u2019s a potentially\nlucrative career option too. According to a recent global survey, freelancers\nin almost every industry earn more than their traditionally employed\ncounterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether\nyou are freelancing with the aim of building an established business, working a\nside gig, or intend to freelance for the rest of your career, there\u2019s never\nbeen a better time to join this flourishing industry in the UAE.<\/p>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Freelancing is fast growing in popularity the world over. In the US, one in three workers is freelance and it is predicted that more than half the population will take part in the gig economy within the next few years. It is a similar picture in Europe. In a 2016 Eurostat survey, over 30m people aged between 15 and 64 reported as self-employed \u2013 accounting for 14% of total employment. The UK alone saw a 31% increase in freelance workers last year, bringing the total number to 4.8m. Here in the UAE, while statistics are slightly harder to come by, […]<\/p>\n