The UAE offers a residence permit for remote working that allows people to live in the Emirates but work for a company that does not operate in the country.
The one-year visa, which can be renewed, was introduced in September 2022.
With remote working increasingly normalised since the coronavirus pandemic, the visa offers the chance to enjoy life in the UAE without having to quit a job with a company based elsewhere.
In the first half of 2022, remote hires from the UAE doubled compared to the same period in 2021, according to a report from remote onboarding company Deel.
Here is everything you need to know about the remote working visa.
Who is eligible for the remote work visa?
To apply for the visa, the employee needs to provide proof that they work remotely for a company based outside the UAE.
The applicant should have a valid passport for at least six months and health insurance that covers medical costs in the UAE.
People who secure a remote work permit can also sponsor family members, but the duration of residency should be the same as the sponsor.
How to apply from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates?
People looking to apply from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah must submit their request on the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) website and obtain a 60-day entry permit.
Here is a step-by-step process to apply:
- Register on the ICA website - https://icp.gov.ae.
- Go to the smart services channel and log in.
- Choose the remote work visa UAE option.
- Upload the documents, submit them and pay a fee of Dh300.
ICA officers will approve the applications. The Dh300 cost is only the application fee and people may have to pay more when they come to the UAE.
Applying from Dubai?
In Dubai, remote work permits should be applied for on the website of the Dubai Corporation of Tourism and Commerce Marketing - www.visitdubai.com.
If you are an employee, you need proof of employment with a contract valid for one year from your current employer. You must earn at least $5,000 (Dh18,250) per month and submit the salary slip for the last month and bank statements for three months.
If you are a company owner, you must provide proof of company ownership with a minimum income of $5,000 per month. Bank statements of the company’s account for the preceding three months should be submitted as proof.
The application fee in Dubai is $287 (Dh1,050), which includes all costs. Paying the fee does not guarantee you will receive the visa.
All applications will be reviewed and processed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.
What happens when you come to the UAE?
Once you obtain the entry permit, you must have your medical test and apply for residency within 60 days, as is the case with normal work visas.
The remote residency permit allows you to rent a house, open a bank account and send your children to school.
A version of this article was first published in September 2022
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
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Name: Kumulus Water
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Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
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Sector: Water technology
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What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
