Month 3
Time
1–3 weeks end to end
Cost
AED 7,500–20,000/yr depending on route
Difficulty
Medium
What to bring
Passport
CV and proof of your field (portfolio, degree, or experience letters)
Bank statements for the visa stage
Not needed: An office. Flexi-desk packages satisfy the address requirement
Your options
GoFreelance (TECOM)
The official freelance permit. Media, tech, education
~AED 7,500/yr + visa costs
The cheapest legitimate route if your field qualifies. Permit first, then the residence visa hangs off it. Renewal is annual and painless.
Free-zone licence
IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ and friends
AED 12,000–20,000/yr incl. visa
A one-person company rather than a permit. More cost, more flexibility on activities, and the 0% qualifying-income rules live here. Compare packages; they negotiate.
Working on a visit visa
The "everyone does it" myth
Fines, bans, frozen accounts
Invoicing from the UAE without a licence is illegal, banks flag it, and visa runs got harder. If Dubai is home, get the permit.
Prices checked June 2026
Do it
- 1
Pick your route by field and budget
Media/tech/education → GoFreelance. Anything else, or if you'll hire later → a free-zone licence. Get quotes from two free zones; prices move.
- 2
Apply for the permit or licence
Online application with CV, portfolio or credentials, passport. Approval typically days, not weeks.
- 3
Convert it into residency
The permit sponsors your residence visa — entry permit or status change, medical, biometrics, Emirates ID. Same machine as an employee, you're just paying the bills.
- 4
Open the bank account and mind the tax line
A business or personal account that can receive client payments cleanly. Under AED 1M turnover you're outside corporate tax; approaching it, get an accountant.
Words you'll hear
Free zone
Special licence jurisdictions (DMCC, IFZA, TECOM…) where freelancers and companies self-sponsor visas.
Mainland
A licence under Dubai Economy rather than a free zone. Needed to serve some local-market clients directly.
End-of-service gratuity
The leaving payout. 21 days' basic salary per year served (30 after five years). A nice cheque, not a pension.
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