There is no single "freelance visa" in Dubai. You either take a freelance permit from a free zone and get your residence through that free zone, or you get a freelance permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and apply for the five-year Green Visa, which has degree and income tests. If you need staff, a brand name or several activities, a company licence is the better fit.
The routes differ in cost, paperwork and how much they let you do. This guide compares them, explains what a freelance permit allows, and covers banking and tax. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.
What is a freelance visa in the UAE?
It is two documents, not one: a permit to work for yourself, and a residence visa. A free zone can provide both, although the visa is often priced separately. MOHRE issues the permit only, and the Green Visa provides the residence.
According to the federal government portal, MOHRE's freelance permit is for individuals who want to work independently without an employer sponsoring them, including foreign nationals on self-sponsored residence visas. You earn by providing services to individuals or companies, and you are not their employee.
Freelance visas are still being issued in Dubai. After reports in 2025 that new applications had been paused, GDRFA Dubai said in November 2025 that freelance visas continue to be issued through official channels, and that it had deployed inspection teams after a small number of people misused the system. In practice, that means closer checks that your work matches your permit.
Your options compared
| Route | Residence | Suits | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free zone freelance permit | Visa through the free zone, often priced separately | Professionals in fields such as media, tech, education and design | Own name only, no staff, set list of activities |
| MOHRE permit plus Green Visa | Five-year Green Visa, no sponsor | Degree or diploma holders with two years of strong income, or proof of solvency | Degree and income tests |
| Company licence | Investor or partner visa through your company | Anyone who needs staff, a trade name or several activities | Higher cost and more compliance |
Free zone freelance permits
In Dubai, one established option is GoFreelance, offered across Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Design District and Dubai Knowledge Park. Its activity list covers tech roles such as software development and data analytics, media roles such as photographer and writer, education roles such as trainer and researcher, and design roles such as graphic designer and interior designer.
Read the price carefully. GoFreelance's own FAQ says the package price does not include a visa. The residence visa, issued for one or two years, and the establishment card are charged separately, and you need valid medical insurance before the visa is issued. The permit does not let you hire or sponsor staff.
Free zones in other emirates follow a similar pattern. RAKEZ in Ras Al Khaimah, for example, issues freelancer permits to media and education professionals. Its terms say you trade under your own birth name, choose one activity, cannot hire staff or obtain extra visas, cannot open a corporate bank account and are personally liable for your work. Its visa is optional if you already hold UAE residence through another sponsor, in which case you need that sponsor's no-objection letter.
Applications are not a formality. RAKEZ, for example, asks for a portfolio, work samples or a qualification certificate to show you work in the field you are applying for. If you are comparing free zones for a permit, our guide to choosing a UAE free zone sets out the questions to ask first, and our free zone guides cover individual zones.
The Green Visa route for freelancers
This route gives you five years of residence in your own name. ICP's criteria, as of October 2026, are:
- a freelance or self-employment permit from MOHRE
- a bachelor's degree, specialised diploma or equivalent
- annual income from freelance work of at least AED 360,000 for the previous two years, or proof of financial solvency for the length of your stay
Once issued, you can sponsor your spouse and children, and the federal portal says Green Visa holders may also sponsor first-degree relatives. ICP also gives Green Residence holders a grace period of up to six months after the permit expires.
This route suits people who already have a track record, such as an employee who has gone independent with existing clients. It is much harder to use if you have neither an income history you can prove nor the savings to show solvency. Our Green Visa guide covers the evidence and the application steps.
When a company licence makes more sense
A freelance permit is built for one person selling their own services. Move to a company if you need to:
- hire anyone, even one assistant
- trade under a brand name rather than your own
- open a corporate bank account
- carry out more than one activity, or sell goods
- give clients a company to contract with
That company can be a free zone company or a mainland company licensed by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Our guide to Dubai trade licence types explains the categories, and our business setup team can compare the cost of a small company with a permit for your activity.
Say you are a graphic designer working alone who wins a retainer that needs a junior designer. On a freelance permit you cannot sponsor that person, so you would have to set up a company anyway. If that is likely within your first year, starting with a small company may save you a second set-up.
Banking, invoicing and tax
Expect to bank through a personal account. GoFreelance says you may open a personal bank account in your own name, and RAKEZ says its freelancers cannot open corporate accounts. Keep one account for client payments only, so your business income is easy to show to a bank, to an immigration officer at renewal or to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
Two tax thresholds matter, as of October 2026:
- Corporate tax. Under Cabinet Decision No. 49 of 2023, an individual's business activity is subject to corporate tax only when its turnover goes above AED 1 million in a calendar year. Salary and personal investment income do not count towards that figure.
- VAT. Registration is mandatory once your taxable supplies go above AED 375,000 over the previous 12 months, or are expected to in the next 30 days. Our guide to UAE VAT registration covers the process.
If your income is near either threshold, speak to a registered tax agent before you cross it.
Common mistakes
- Working outside your permit. Activities not on your permit are not covered, and enforcement has tightened.
- Assuming the visa is in the package. Check whether the visa, establishment card, medical test, Emirates ID and insurance are included.
- Cancelling your current visa too early. For the Green Visa, GDRFA Dubai says not to cancel your current residence before MOHRE issues your permit. On any route, have the new approval in hand before you cancel.
- Letting the permit lapse. Your residence depends on it. Renew on time.
- Mixing personal and client money. Untraceable income makes renewals, bank reviews and a later Green Visa application harder.
Once you have chosen a route, the residence steps (entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID) are the same as for any visa; our guide to the residence visa process explains them. If you are unsure whether a permit or a small company fits your plans, book a free consultation.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Were freelance visas suspended in Dubai?
Can I freelance while I am employed by a UAE company?
How long does a freelance permit last?
Can I sponsor my family as a freelancer?
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