Contracting in the UAE

Contracting opportunities abound in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is fast becoming the technology hub for the Middle East.

With over 150 nationalities, the UAE is as cosmopolitan as you’ll get – a melting pot of different cultures. Dubai, one of seven emirates that make up the UAE, has long been a destination of choice for expats looking to take advantage of tax-free salaries, vibrant social life and year round sunshine. An added bonus for UK contractors is that English is widely spoken; the one significant difference to the working week is that Friday is a rest day while normal working hours resume on Sunday.

Obvious as it may sound, if you’re thinking of relocating to the UAE, you must do your homework to avoid any surprises on arrival. As well as securing a contract, you have to think about paperwork, finding a property and adjusting to life in a different country. Despite the tax incentives, the cost of living is high and you have to respect local laws and Islamic traditions: drugs are strictly forbidden and you have to obtain an alcohol licence.

Demand for contractors in Dubai

Contracting is becoming very popular in the UAE as many professionals choose to offer their services on a freelance basis. There is demand for a variety of skill sets, from IT developers, digital media experts and designers, to advertising creative directors and copywriters right through to HR consultants, healthcare specialists and marketers. You can find out more on specialist freelance job websites such as Nabbesh.com.

Over a third of companies (35%) are looking for people with initiative to help deliver growth and take on new challenges – qualities you would associate with contractors. Prior experience of working in the region is an added advantage as is being able to communicate well in Arabic. Teamwork, leadership and negotiation skills were also high on the list of desired attributes.

Freelancing toolkit for the UAE

Setting up a company in the UAE can be time consuming, so using a business set up specialist is often the best solution. As you are deemed to be working for yourself (rather than part-time) you will need to obtain a trade licence to work in your field, either through Dubai’s Department for Economic Development (DED) or via a free zone such as Media City Dubai. The benefit of the latter is that it allows non-national contractors to retain full ownership of their company and enjoy tax-free status for 50 years.

Freelancers must also obtain a visa through the licensing agent or through an employer’s sponsorship. The cost and location of office space, which can just be a flexi-desk, is often included with the licence. On top of visa fees, there are other costs to consider such as Emirates ID, establishment card and medical expenses.

Entrepreneurial contracting talent

A hotbed for business innovation, Dubai is on a quest to become one of the world’s leading technology hubs. Internet entrepreneurs, start-ups and e-commerce companies are drawn to the area by a transportation and trading infrastructure that’s second to none, as well as laws that encourage free trade and inward foreign investment.

The World Expo 2020 and its theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ is coming to Dubai – the first of its kind to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA). It is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars will be invested in the local economy not to mention the many millions of visitors to the area. The Smart City initiative will leverage the ‘Internet of Everything’ to make Dubai one of the most interconnected cities in the world.

Rich pickings for IT contractors

Given the pace of technological innovation and the rise in consumer numbers, organisations are looking for developers with experience of working on major infrastructure systems and significant scalable projects to support the rapid growth of local companies. Knowledge of programming languages such as SQL, Java, JavaScript, C#, C++, Python, PHP, Ruby, iOS and Apple’s Swift is highly sought after. All the major top tier international IT tech companies such as Oracle, Sun Microsystems, CGI, Microsoft and Intel have a presence in the region.  

Buoyed by domestic and foreign investment and a desire to become one of the world’s foremost technology hubs, the UAE will continue to prove a highly desirable destination for UK contractors. As long as you follow the right procedures, you should be well set to embark on your career as a contractor in Dubai – and join the other 100,000+ British expats who are enjoying tax-free salaries, cutting edge projects and a fantastic work-life balance.