Since 2019, the UAE has opened its doors to freelancers. This includes tutors, sports coaches, musicians, artists, designers, and media professionals, who can now secure a permit and offer their services legally across the UAE. With the UAE freelance visa, they can also establish a permanent residence in the country.
The options for authorities providing a freelancer visa are vast. Many emirates offer freelance visas and we can guide you on choosing the right one for your individual business.
A freelance visa is a UAE residency visa, offering the flexibility of living in the country without the need for a sponsoring company. It's a form of self-employment in the UAE, granting independence and freedom.
The visa comes alongside a freelance permit, effectively a work permit for a freelancer. The UAE provides these permits through various licensing authorities, mainly located in free zones. Almost every emirate has a free zone which can issue a freelance license and visa.
In the emirate of Dubai, for example, Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, and Dubai Knowledge Park are the free zones capable of issuing a freelance license and visa.
Your freelancer visa will resemble a standard UAE residency visa—a pink stamp in your passport—which is valid for two or three years.
A freelance license in Dubai and the UAE is a permit issued to freelancing individuals, enabling them to work legally throughout the country. Freelancers may not always require a residence visa (if their visa is under a spouse or a company), but a freelance permit is a must. In essence, a freelance visa is optional, but a freelance permit is mandatory for those seeking to offer their services publicly and charge fees.
In short, anyone! If you aspire to work independently and start your own business, the opportunity awaits you in the UAE.
With a diverse list of approved professions, almost anyone can find a suitable option for freelance work in the UAE. Most cases don't require educational certificates or degrees, and previous freelance experience isn't mandatory.
Freelancing in the UAE comes with an array of benefits:
As one of the world's safest countries, the UAE is an ideal starting point for your freelance journey. Research shows that over 60% of UAE residents would consider freelancing if given the opportunity.
Upon securing an official freelance permit, freelancers can:
For most freelancers, there are no strict professional background requirements. You simply need to gather certain documents and submit your application.
Generally, the required documents are:
Securing a freelance visa will grant you a residence visa, allowing you to live in the country. Additionally, you will need a work permit or freelance license to start legally freelancing in the UAE.
The UAE houses many business registration authorities, providing multiple options for a freelance visa in Dubai or other emirates.
Regardless of where your permit and visa are issued, you retain the same rights to work throughout the UAE. The distinction between various licensing authorities, like Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, and Dubai Knowledge Park, lies in the range of business activities they offer to freelancers and the associated costs.
The process of obtaining a freelance visa and license in the UAE involves several steps. Here's a general overview:
While freelancers often work from home, some free zones offer shared office spaces. These co-working spaces offer a professional environment and networking opportunities.
To apply for a Freelance Visa in Dubai, you need to receive a freelance permit from the authorities. There are several options to get a Freelance Visa in Dubai.
The Dubai South Free Zone is a cost-effective option for a freelance visa in Dubai. For more information, check out dubaisouth.ae.
GoFreelance, facilitated by the Dubai Development Authority, offers a vast range of freelancing activities spanning four categories: design, education, media, and technology. These groups encompass a multitude of activities, making it an ideal platform to acquire your work permit in the UAE.
However, be wary of companies offering freelance permits under the guise of manpower supply licenses. These establishments merely issue visas and labour cards without an actual government-sanctioned permit for freelance activities.
Abu Dhabi also caters to freelancers with two distinct options: the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development Freelance Permit and Twofour54.
The Department of Economic Development offers 59 activities for freelancers. The freelance license and visa can be granted to any foreigner. The cost of the Abu Dhabi freelance license can be checked at adbc.gov.ae.
If you're already working under an employment visa in Abu Dhabi, you will need a No Objection Letter from your employer to acquire the freelance permit.
Twofour54, a creative hub for media, entertainment, and production sector companies in Abu Dhabi, provides another avenue for freelance permits. However, this requires partnering with a company based there, who will then issue a letter of intent for the desired projects. This letter is necessary for Twofour54's approval of your freelance permit.
Freelancing in Abu Dhabi through Twofour54 is possible only within this free zone and its partner companies.
Several northern emirates offer options for obtaining a freelancer visa. Some free zones issue freelance licenses, while others present regular licenses as "freelance permits" due to their cost-effectiveness and special conditions.
The UAQ free trade zone offers an affordable and straightforward option for freelancers in the UAE. With affordable setup costs, freelance visa fees, and annual renewals, it offers great value for solo entrepreneurs. A wide range of business activities is available, with no need for external approvals or educational degrees to establish this freelance license in UAE.
Ajman free zone provides one of the most cost-effective freelance visas in the UAE. One unique benefit is that one license can sponsor two resident visas. So, if you're seeking a UAE freelance visa, consider sharing the license costs with a friend for three years of coverage!
SHAMS free zone offers another affordable freelance visa in the UAE, with a package designed for media professionals. A single shareholder can apply for one resident visa under this package, which is often promoted as a freelance license due to its affordability and single shareholder condition.
RAKEZ offers freelance visas based on your attested educational certificate. If you live or work in Ras Al Khaimah, this might be a suitable option.
Fujairah's Creative City free zone offers affordable freelance visa packages for the UAE. Although it doesn't provide freelancer visa options per se, some of its low-cost packages serve as good alternatives.
Don’t confuse their so-called package “Freelancer company” with a freelance license. That package is a normal commercial company solution, but its name can easily be taken for a freelance permit in Dubai or UAE.
Freelance licence
LICENSE TYPE | VISAS INCLUDED | TOTAL COST | |
---|---|---|---|
UAQ License – Freelance package | 1 visa | AED 14,145 $3,851 | download breakdown |
SHAMS License – Freelance package | 1 visa | AED 16,620 $4,525 | download breakdown |
TECOM License – Freelance package | 1 visa | AED 15,200 $4,138 | download breakdown |
AFZA License – Freelance package | 1 visa | AED 12,825 $3,492 | download breakdown |
FAQ
Yes, if your turnover reaches 375,000 AED, you are required to add 5% VAT to all your invoices, register with the Federal Tax Authority, and pay VAT quarterly.
Typically, a freelance permit only allows for a personal account. However, some freelance setups, like a license in the Ajman Free Zone, resemble traditional commercial free zone licenses, allowing for a business bank account instead of a personal one.
Here's a step-by-step guide:
Freelancers are required to register for taxation and pay corporate tax only if their yearly account turnover exceeds one million dirhams. The corporate tax rate is 9%.
Freelance Visas in the UAE are valid for 2 years.
If you intend to live and work permanently in the UAE, a UAE residency visa, which can be opened under a freelance permit, is necessary.
Typically, freelancing involves providing professional services. For trading, it's advisable to obtain a trade license specifying the trading of products.
Yes, upon having your visa stamped in your passport, you can sponsor your dependents. Remember, you'll need an attested tenancy contract and legalized marriage/birth certificates to apply for family visas.
Working from home in Dubai is feasible if your professional activities are internet-based. Here's a step-by-step guide:
The total cost of a Freelance Visa in Dubai comprises the freelance permit cost and the actual visa fees. The most affordable freelance permit is available at 7,500 AED. The Freelance Visa under this permit includes 2,000 AED for the Establishment Card and 5,000 AED for the resident visa.
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