The UAE's freelance industry is expanding rapidly, resulting in a rise in competition and offers of low fees to secure work, experts have told The National.
Significant regulatory changes, technological advancements and shifts in work culture accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic have buoyed the country’s freelance industry across several sectors, particularly media, technology and education, said Azeem Zainulbhai, co-founder and chief product officer at talent-on-demand platform Outsized.
“The UAE has introduced more flexible and cost-effective licensing options to accommodate a growing skilled freelance workforce,” he said.
142 per cent increase
There has been a 142 per cent increase across the Mena region in freelancer registration since 2022, according to Outsized’s third annual Talent-On-Demand report, which draws on data from its own platform.
This makes it one of the world’s fastest-growing freelance markets, said Mr Zainulbhai.
“UAE companies are more frequently engaging independent talent to manage costs effectively while accessing specialised skills swiftly,” he told The National.
Worldwide, technology and data analysis roles dominate the sector, but across the region there is broader scope for independent professionals, Mr Zainulbhai added. This includes areas such as finance, risk, product and proposition, sales, marketing and change management.
Advantages to a freelance career
Harriet Shephard decided to leave full-time work for a freelance career in copywriting and journalism two years ago so she could enjoy more freedom to travel, work remotely and set her own schedule, as well as add variety to her work.
“I have loved being a freelancer in the UAE,” she told The National. “Renewing my freelance licence and visa through twofour54 in Abu Dhabi is always relatively simple and straightforward, and I have been fortunate enough to so far find enough work to fill my time.”
There are many advantages to working as an independent professional in the UAE compared to traditional permanent employment, said Mr Zainulbhai.
“Freelancers have the freedom to choose projects that align with their skills and interests, allowing them to work across various industries,” he said. “This not only diversifies their experience but also enhances their career growth.
“The ability to set their own schedules offers a better work-life balance, a significant advantage over the rigid schedules of conventional office jobs. Freelancing in the UAE also opens doors to collaborate with global enterprises and engage with stakeholders from diverse cultural backgrounds.”
Finance-related ‘pain points’
Finance-related concerns plague the industry, said freelance commercial film director Rory McLoughlin, who founded Like Minds UAE, a 2,000-strong community of freelancers that meet up for regular networking events.
Payment was one of the biggest “pain points” among the community’s 200 members who recently participated in a survey Mr McLoughlin ran to gather data about the industry.
“As an individual, you don’t have the financial influence over an established company to push and get those payments,” he told The National.
“Also, you’re trying to create a reputation or get repeat business, so people feel a bit pressured to either not take legal action if people aren’t paying, but also if you complain about not being paid, that could be another reason why a supplier might not take you on again.”
While the majority of people he spoke to were grateful for the opportunities the UAE offers, as it is now easier than ever to access appropriate licences and visas, this has also led to an increase in competition as more professionals move to the Emirates from across the world. Within his community – made up of film professionals, artists, photographers and advertising creators – this has resulted in lower rates across the board.
“It has made people think twice about becoming a freelancer here now, because the price point is so low. You've got this influx of lower-skilled, lower-charging freelancers, which is bringing the level of the market down,” added Mr McLoughlin, who said freelance film directors could “in a good month” earn anywhere between Dh15,000 and Dh80,000 ($4,080 and $21,780), depending on experience.
Inconsistent work opportunities, difficulties in establishing professional connections and high health insurance costs were among other concerns cited in the survey.
Rise in opportunities across AI and technology
Mr Zainulbhai said UAE-based freelancers can expect competitive earnings that vary significantly depending on their industry, expertise and demand for their skills.
There has been vast growth within the technology and AI sectors, which is set to increase as Abu Dhabi adds 30 new roles, including in AI development and 3D-model designing, to its freelancer licence category.
“AI development is crucial for driving advancements in various industries, including health care, finance, logistics and customer service,” he said.
“The demand for AI solutions is increasing as businesses seek to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making and create innovative products and services.”
Quentin Reyes, founder and chief executive of Hyperfusion, which offers computing and generative AI solutions across the Gulf, and hires freelancers regularly, said independent prompt engineers are particularly sought after.
Freelancers bring 'fresh perspective'
Sharon Fernandes, founder of public relations and marketing firm S Factor Agency, said her company’s reliance on freelancers has increased significantly in recent years.
“Freelancers also bring a fresh perspective, as they have worked with various clients across different industries,” she told The National. “As a result, we've found that integrating freelancers into our workflow not only makes business sense but also drives creativity and efficiency.”
Ms Fernandes added that freelancers working in PR and marketing can expect to earn anywhere between Dh9,000 and Dh40,000 per month.
Opportunities for freelancers who specialise in Arabic copywriting and translation are in particularly high demand, said Mnawar Mohammed, founder of Arabic-language content creation agency CopyArabia.
“Businesses are increasingly looking for experts who can adapt global content to resonate with local audiences, making this an exciting time for freelancers in these fields,” he told The National.
Know your industry
It is imperative to be aware of local regulations, Mr Zainulbhai added, including work permit requirements and ensuring you have the appropriate visa, whether that’s the Digital Nomad Visa, the golden visa or the 10-year blue residency visa.
Ms Shephard advises anyone looking to enter the freelance industry to secure work before taking the plunge. “This will make it feel less scary and offer some security,” she said.
“It’s also important to keep track of who has or has not paid you, and all the different deadlines you have to meet. I find the more different clients and publications you work for, the more organised you have to be.”
It can also help to attend industry events, she added. “They give me a chance to network and also add a social element to a job that can at times be quite isolating.”
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Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
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Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
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6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
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There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.
It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.
What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.
When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.
It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.
This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.
It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.
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Transmission: seven-speed automatic
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
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Teams:
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Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
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Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
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All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
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Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
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