Still Working From Home? Here's Why Dubai Is The Best Destination For Remote Workers
Dubai ¡ªthe wealthiest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ¡ª is indeed the Middle East¡¯s answer to Silicon Valley. And, there's some good news for all the UAE lovers. Urging digital nomads to relocate their #WFH setup to the UAE¡¯s beautiful caf¨¦s, golden beaches and opulent hotels, the UAE launched a new ¡°Remote Working Visa¡±.
What is Remote Working Visa?
People who work for foreign firms can reside in the UAE for one year. Anyone who wants may also extend it for another 12 months. You have 60 days from the time you get your entrance permission to complete your medical examination and apply for your remote worker visa in the UAE. After that, you¡¯ll have the legal right to establish permanent residence in the United Arab Emirates.
Moreover, you will work remotely from the country, create a bank account, choose a place to live, and enrol your children in local schools.
Who is eligible?
You¡¯ll need to have a job offer from an international organisation and be able to verify your employment. Moreover, you¡¯ll need a passport with at least six months left and health insurance covering the UAE. The best part about working from the golden beaches of Dubai is that in 2021 Dubai was recognised as the No.1 beach city for digital nomads.??
How well is UAE equipped?
The UAE government has spent millions of dollars over the past few decades on building infrastructure for remote working, giving it an advantage over other nations. The country was ranked third globally in a list of ¡®Most Connected Countries¡¯ index by Carphone Warehouse, a British mobile phone retailer.
In 2021, the United Arab Emirates reportedly had the fastest mobile internet speeds in the world with 238.06 mbps, a remote worker¡¯s dream.
In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, Dubai has introduced public WiFi, smart parking, electric car charging stations and smart power grids. In addition to the remote work visas, Dubai is also home to a number of co-working spaces for people looking for comfortable workstations.
How to apply?
The answer to this question will be different for each of the Emirates. For example, applying to Dubai requires a visit to visitdubai.com. However, if you are applying for Abu Dhabi, you must apply at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) website.
For employees
To secure a remote work visa all you need to do is provide proof of a valid employment contract for one year paying a minimum salary of ?3,840 per month for the last three months atleast.
For business owners
Suppose you are applying as a business owner. In that case, you should possess the business for a minimum of one year (with extensions possible) and three months¡¯ worth of bank statements showing a monthly average revenue of US $3,500 (or its foreign currency equivalent). You must provide documentation demonstrating that work has been performed remotely from outside the UAE.
The application will cost you ?220 per person with added costs for medical insurance valid in the UAE and the processing fees bringing the total to approximately ?469. The visa is valid for a year and can be renewed by re-applying and if you¡¯re eligible you can even bring your family along.
For freelancers
In November 2020, the UAE introduced freelance visas for self-employed people from around the work to live and work in the country.
According to Dubai Development Authority, a freelancer permit costs ?1,568 excluding visa costs. Professionals working in a number for industries including finance, media, IT, education and design can apply to work as a freelancer in the UAE.?
But, why UAE?
Because of its unique geographic location, remote workers in Dubai are able to serve a number of timezones.You could be taking calls from Asia in the morning, work with your European colleagues in the afternoon, and dial into the US in the evening.?So if you¡¯re part of a global team, you don¡¯t have to stay up at odd times to take phone calls or zoom meetings with your colleagues in other parts of the world.
Dubai¡¯s location also provides for perfect mobility to travel East or West within a day. So, you can easily plan work trips for a day trip to Europe, Africa or Asia.
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