UAE announces freelancer license for residents, citizens, non-residents

Department of Economic Development has announced a new ‘freelance license’ in Abu Dhabi which covers 48 types of business activities taken place in the UAE.

As per the details, the license will be made available to residents, non-residents, and the citizens of the UAE. Authorities said that the residents can also apply for residence visas. Office space is also not compulsory.

As per the details, the new license is likely to help companies have expertise available in the market while being able to minimize unemployment. The license will also boost income for people such as housewives, students, and retirees.

Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of ADDED, said that the resolution will contribute to enhancing the role of both citizens and non-citizens in boosting Abu Dhabi’s business sector.

He said that this will help stimulate the business and investment environments in the emirate and will create more job opportunities in certain fields that add value to the business sector.

Al Blooshi said that the issuance of freelancer licenses will bring various economic results. He also said that that the license will help businesses by eliminating the need to employ laborers in all specializations that are only needed periodically, apart from allowing freelancers to provide their services remotely and round the clock

 Criteria

According to the international news agency, applicants must go through a relevant skill set to get the license. Moreover, UAE residents should also get prior approval if employed in public and private sector companies if their selected activity is similar to their regular job.

The regulatory list of the new resolution has mentioned work terms and general conditions for an applicant. The applicant must get approval from the government employer and meet the general requirements if he/she works for the public sector.

There are two cases for those having a permanent employment contract. In the first case, if the employer’s activity is related to the activity of the requested license, the employer’s approval is a must. In the second case, the employer’s approval is not needed if the employer’s activity is different from the activity of the license to be issued.

Activities

ADDED has mentioned around 48 economic activities that can be practiced with the freelancer license. These included fashion design, clothing, natural and aesthetic flower arrangement, photography studio, event photography, videography, event management, gift packaging, jewelry design, web design, project design and management services, translation, calligraphy, drawing, statistical consultations, agricultural guidance, and marketing operations management.

In addition to these, the freelancer license is also applicable for activities included computer hardware and software, real estate, legal consultancy, public relations, standardization and quality management, pest control, project development, procurement, technical installations, green buildings, information technology, economic feasibility studies, human resources, tourism, heritage, entertainment, administrative studies, food safety, goods designs, fine art, architectural drawings, and maritime services.

Moreover, consultations related to lifestyle development, marketing studies, parliamentary studies, banking and marketing services in the fields of energy, space and logistical consultations, fitness, artworks, sculpting, handicrafts, printing services, photocopying, gardening and landscaping, printing on textiles or clothes, plastering, engraving, decoration, and soap-making are also included.