Click here for Mobile View
Freelance work permit for Dh7,500
Freelance permit holders will be able to legally work in media and
education sectors.
Residents can obtain a freelance package for an annual fee of
Dh7,500 in media and education sectors with
Dubai Media City (DMC) and
Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP).
The package, called Gofreelance, was launched by TECOM Group, a member
of Dubai Holding, in partnership with Dubai Creative Clusters
Authority.
The annual fee includes the Freelancer Permit and access to the
Business Centre.
visa:
If the candidates requires a visa, such as if they are
non-residents who want to freelance here, relevant assistance will be
provided. However, the visa will cost separately as per the normal
associated fees.
Freelancing advantage
Residents who hold jobs can obtain the Freelance Permit provided they
have a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer or
sponsor, supplementing their salary.
Dependent Visa Holder: The permit
is also open to candidates who are on their parents or husbands visa.
Activities
The permit is restricted to certain activities in each of the two
sectors of Education and Media. For example, in Education, there are
five activities, including Education Advisor, Researcher, and
e-Learning Adviser.
The Media category has almost 50 activities, including Actor,
Animator, Cameraman, Journalist, and others.
Simplified process
Apply through online at
www.gofreelance.ae, for work permit.
Candidates have to upload the application forms and required
documents, such as their CV, passport and visa copy, a bank reference
letter, and sponsors NOC (if applicable).
Once the application is approved, candidates will receive an email
notification and then visit one of the business centres in DMC or DKP
to personally sign the documents and pay the fee. During the visit,
the candidates may be asked relevant questions regarding their
application for clarification or verification purposes. Shortly
afterwards, they will receive their freelance permit via email.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freelancing in the UAE: how to get a permit
online and make money
It is important to understand how the freelance sector works in the
UAE.
Applicants can complete the processes and payments and receive the
permit online.
Securing a permit is very simple and clear - and the best part is that
this can be completed at home. These are the important points to
remember:
Freelancers just need to submit an online application form along with
a copy of their passport and visa page - if available. A permit will
be issued and emailed within three to five days upon receiving
necessary government approvals. If a residence visa is required, the
process currently is also online and Dubai Media City's customer care
team will be guiding the talent throughout the process
However, if this is your first try at going freelance, the prospects
can be quite daunting. However, before you take the plunge, you need
to plan out a few things:
1. Which authority will you register with to get a freelance permit?
2. How will you charge (per project, per hour or per task) and how
much?
3. What are your expenses? Make a yearly budget.
1. Which authority will you register with to get a freelance
permit?
Why do I need to get a permit?
According the UAE's Labour Law you can work as a freelancer as long as
you have a freelance work permit.
Part-time work is also a possibility, particularly in the current
situation.
Professions and sectors
There are certain professions and sectors that lend themselves easily
to freelance work. Many free zones offer freelance permits to people
in the media or education sector, for example. Consulting, too, can be
done on a freelance basis.
So, it is important to check the list of professions provided by the
authority which is issuing you the freelance permit.
What is the cost of getting a freelance visa?
The cost can vary significantly based on the authority you apply to.
Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), for example, offers a two-year
freelancer work permit with a UAE visa starting from Dh17,105. Other
free zones may charge on a yearly basis as well. It is important to
shop around before you settle on a particular free zone authority to
work from.
Regardless of which authority you apply to, it is crucial that you get
a freelance work permit, and abide by UAE’s Labour Laws.
You can apply with a number of free zones in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras
Al Khaimah.
However, depending on the free zone authority you approach, you may
face limitations on the type of professions that can be registered, as
mentioned above.
The freelance permit under gofreelance.ae, for example, is for
professionals within the education and media sector.
The package, which comes for Dh7,500 a year is inclusive of the
freelance permit and access to a business centre.
Every free zone authority has its own set of requirements, processes
and charges.
There are also online communities that help you post your portfolio
and bid for projects that need freelancers. Some of these communities
include:
Marketplace.ae
Bawabba.com
xpertin.com
Find out about other restrictions
Are you allowed to work outside the free zone authority? This is
something you need to consider and check before you apply for the
permit.
Another question you can ask your permit issuing authority is whether
they offer flexible payment options, and if a staggered payment plan
is available.
Prepare your portfolio
As a freelancer, your portfolio is probably more important than your
CV. Your clients will decide on whether the fees you charge is worth
it depending on the projects you have worked on and the results you
have delivered. So, before you start approaching clients, build a
portfolio of your best work.
You also have options to work internationally
Apart from projects within the UAE, you can also bid for projects
internationally, especially if your line of work lends itself to
working remotely. So, content creators, translators, online
secretarial services as well as tutoring can be done for international
clients as well. A couple of helpful places to start looking at are
upwork.com and freelance.com, which connect freelancers to
international establishments looking for professionals on a temporary
basis.
What are your expenses? Make a yearly budget.
Breaking down your expenses to the tiniest details is crucial, if you
want to make it work as a freelancer. Some costs you need to consider
include:
Licence cost
Visa cost
Health insurance
Office space, flexi desk or rent if working from home
Equipment (including laptop and phone)
Travel/everyday expenses
Bills - utility, phone, fuel
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although freelancing in the UAE is legal, it is important to
distinguish between
part-time work and freelancing. The
latter denotes working for yourself, which is fine as long as you are
licensed to do so.
There are two ways of setting up a business in Dubai and different
licence options for both. The first is through the Dubai Department of
Economic Development and the second is through one of the
many free
zones. The
big benefit of setting
up business through a free zone is
that companies (i.e. you as a freelancer) can remain 100 per cent
foreign-owned and enjoy tax-free status for 50 years.
Stay-at-home mums can also freelance on their husband's visa, so long
as they obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) from their spouse, as
well as a labour
card issued from the licensing authority/immigration
office of the emirate where the freelance company has been registered.
The majority of licensing authorities require freelancers to have some
sort of office space within their jurisdiction, even if it is
something as basic as a flexi-desk or a so-called smart office, which
is often already built into the price of the company set-up package
offered.
twofour54 Abu Dhabi Media Zone
provides Freelance visa for Media professionals.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Pages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity and Name Change in LLC
License
A/C,
Painting,
Technical Works
License procedure and Cost
Estimate
Adding Activity in LLC License
Adding Partner & Capital Increment in LLC
Adding Partner and
Removing Partner in LLC
Business Set-up in Dubai
Branch of a Foreign Company
Capital Increment & Adding Partner in LLC
Change of Location-Office/Shop
Changing
Establishment License to LLC
Civil
Company
Commercial
License-New
Company
Law
Dubai Real Estate Law
Ejari
Freehold
property Visa
Free Zones
General Trading License procedure and Cost
Estimate
Graphic & Web Design License
Procedure and Cost
Estimate
Industrial Projects
Investor Visa
Investor/Partner Visa
Cancellation
License Cancellation-Establishment
License Modification (change of owner/name/activity/technical staff)-
Municipality Online
License Renewal-DED
License
Renew, Convert to LLC & Change Name
License Renewal-Trakhees
License Renewal-Contracting & Maintenance-DM
License Sale & Change to Service Agent
LLC
Cancellation
LLC
Formation
Local Service Agent
Location Change-Business Site
Modify Contractor Registration Data
(Foreign Companies)
Municipality Controlled Activities
Municipality Exam/Test
Name and Activity Change in LLC
License
New Contracting License Registration at DM
Nursery
License
Painting, Plumbing, Flooring Works
License procedure and Cost
Estimate
PRO Card-DED
Professional Firm
Professional License
Professional
License Sale & Change to Service Agent
Real Estate License
Remove Partner from LLC License
Removing Partner
and Adding Partner
in LLC License
Renewal
of
Contracting & Maintenance
Companies
Sole Establishment
Technical Service
License procedure and Cost
Estimate
To start a
Nursery
Tourism & Travel License Procedure and Cost
Estimate
Trade
License-New
Trade
License Renewal-DED
Trade
License
Renew, Change to LLC & Change Name
Trakhees License Renewal
Travel & Tourism License Procedure and Cost
Estimate
Web & Graphic Design License
Procedure and Cost
Estimate
What is
LLC?
Withdraw Partner from LLC License
|