Abu Dhabi (UAE) starts a new freelancer license (visa) for non-residents.
The Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has made the freelancers happy by introducing freelance licenses on November 15 to benefit UAE citizens, residents, and non-residents, which covers 48 kinds of business activities conducted in the UAE. Initially, freelancers were overlooked in the conventional job market, but now license will showcase their talent and increase their worth in the market, it will work as a platform for those people who want to work remotely and for job holders or students who want to do part-time work, as it will allow them to work as partners without a local service agent or Emirati citizen.
Who is a Freelancer?
Doing particular pieces of work for different organizations, rather than working all the time for a single organization. The work can be of any nature such as author, designer, or actor. This is like selling work or services for hours, days, and jobs instead of for one typical organization from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Eligible sectors for new freelancer license
The 48 business activities included in the license are fashion Design, Clothing, Natural and Aesthetic Flower Management, Photography Studio, Event Photography, Videography, Event Management, Gift Packaging, Jewelry Design, Web Design, Project Design, Management Services, Translation, Calligraphy, drawing, statistical advice, agricultural guidance, and marketing management, computer hardware and software, real estate, legal advice, public relations, standards, and quality management, pest control, project development, procurement, technical installations, green buildings, Information technology, economic feasibility studies, human resources, tourism, heritage, recreation, management studies, food safety, equipment design, fine art, architectural drawings, and marine services. Lifestyle Development, Marketing Studies, Parliamentary Studies, Energy, Space, and Logistics Consulting, Fitness, Artworks, Sculpture, handicraft, printing services, photocopying, horticultural and landscaping, textile or textile printing, plastering, engraving, decoration and soap making.
How to get a freelancer license or visa in Dubai?
The license will be issued to residents, non-residents, and UAE nationals. To obtain a license, applicants must demonstrate relevant skills. The UAE citizens will also get prior permission If employed in public or private sector firms if their chosen work is similar to their regular job. Applicants can also apply for resident visas, officials added. Office space is also not required. The license is expected to provide employment opportunities for groups, including students retirees, and housewives, which will increase their income. It will also facilitate more opportunities to work remotely.
Will this help the business sector?
The license holders will have a supportive role in the service sectors in UAE because the economic activities are technical type mostly in freelancer licenses. The plus point is that many UAE residents are having professional experience in the labor market especially in Abu Dhabi, who can put activities into practice by using their technical skills, according to Rashed Abdulkarim Al Booshi, Undersecretary of ADDEd.
The resolution will help enhance the role of both citizens and non-citizens in promoting Abu Dhabi’s business sector. Freelancer license will inspire the profession to tap into enhancing the worldwide freelance market, which will in turn reduce the high cost of hiring permanent employees for seasonal work. It will provide the space for freelancers to work remotely according to their contracts.
Effect on unemployment
Al Booshi said in descriptions that the freelancer license will support solving the unemployment issues, and it will increase the income of different segments such as students, housewives, retirees, and remote workers. The license will assist businesses in eliminating the need to employ workers in all of these specializations that are only needed from time to time, in addition to allowing freelancers to provide their services remotely and work around the clock. This allows technicians to carry out their activities independently after completing their normal working hours. Freelance license holders will lead to various positive economic outcomes, such as harnessing the potential of the unemployed.
Term and condition (Employer permission)
The government wants to provide freelance licenses without disturbing the sectors, and the employer’s permission is required under the following terms and conditions to avoid further complications. The candidate who is working in the public sector will obtain permission from the government and fulfill the general requirements, if he is working in the private sector there are two to deal with:
- If the activity of the employer and the activity of the requested license is the same then he will take the employer’s permission.
- If the activity of the employer and the activity of the requested license is not the same then there is no need for the employer’s permission.
The same 1 and 2 number step applies to the part-time job holders in the private sector. The timings, leaves, and other related things will be settled under the two parties’ agreement’s terms and conditions.