Picture used for illustrative purposes only. Dubai: If you were considering a stint as freelancer, a question that you may have is: Will I make as much as I did working for a company? As precautionary measures for COVID-19 affect businesses in the UAE, many workers have had to take temporary salary cuts or go on unpaid leaves. But is it really possible to earn well as a freelancer? To get a realistic answer it is important to understand how the freelance sector works in the UAE. This is our guide to better understanding how you can bid for projects as a freelancer and make it work for you. Picture used for illustrative purposes only. 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? 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 where businesses have been affected by the precautionary measures taken to curb COVID-19. To know more about how the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has issued a decree regulating the work professionals can do for another company, read this . 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? Picture used for illustrative purposes only. The cost can vary significantly based on the authority you apply to. Ras Al Khaimah Free Zone, 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 […]
