Freelance Work Permit in Dubai


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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.
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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
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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.
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