Rumours swirling on social media that the UAE had quietly frozen its popular freelance-visa scheme were firmly debunked on November 7 by Lieutenant General Mohammed Al Marri, Director-General of Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Speaking to Gulf News, Al Marri said “freelance visas continue to be issued as normal through authorised channels,” warning residents not to fall for unverified online claims.
The freelance, or self-employment, visa lets specialists—from graphic designers and digital-marketing consultants to architects and IT engineers—legally work as independent contractors without a local sponsor. Since its 2022 revamp, the permit has become a pillar of Dubai’s strategy to attract global talent and remote workers.
![Dubai Immigration Chief Dismisses Rumours of Freelance-Visa Suspension]()
Al Marri acknowledged a “small number of abuses,” including individuals selling fake approval letters or promising fast-track processing. In response, GDRFA has tightened back-end checks and deployed inspection teams to monitor the labour market. Legitimate applications, he stressed, must be filed via the official GDRFA portal, ICP smart app or accredited Amer typing centres.
For mobility managers, the clarification averts potential disruption. Consulting firms and creative agencies increasingly rely on the visa to staff project-based roles without long-term sponsorship liabilities. A sudden freeze would have jeopardised deliverables and led to non-compliance penalties.
GDRFA also reminded visa holders of key rules: freelancers cannot themselves sponsor employees; they must renew permits annually; and they remain subject to the UAE’s taxation and AML reporting frameworks. Companies engaging freelancers were urged to verify their counterpart’s Emirates ID and work-permit number.
The freelance, or self-employment, visa lets specialists—from graphic designers and digital-marketing consultants to architects and IT engineers—legally work as independent contractors without a local sponsor. Since its 2022 revamp, the permit has become a pillar of Dubai’s strategy to attract global talent and remote workers.
Al Marri acknowledged a “small number of abuses,” including individuals selling fake approval letters or promising fast-track processing. In response, GDRFA has tightened back-end checks and deployed inspection teams to monitor the labour market. Legitimate applications, he stressed, must be filed via the official GDRFA portal, ICP smart app or accredited Amer typing centres.
For mobility managers, the clarification averts potential disruption. Consulting firms and creative agencies increasingly rely on the visa to staff project-based roles without long-term sponsorship liabilities. A sudden freeze would have jeopardised deliverables and led to non-compliance penalties.
GDRFA also reminded visa holders of key rules: freelancers cannot themselves sponsor employees; they must renew permits annually; and they remain subject to the UAE’s taxation and AML reporting frameworks. Companies engaging freelancers were urged to verify their counterpart’s Emirates ID and work-permit number.
