Digital Nomads in the UAE

Among the many unexpected effects of the COVID-19 pandemic includes the growth of remote work, causing an increase in the number of digital nomads across the globe. This blog explores the UAE’s new remote working visa and its effects on the digital nomad trend in the country.

Why is the UAE an attractive option for digital nomads?

Digital transformation in the UAE has rapidly advanced in recent years, making the region an attractive choice for those seeking a digital nomad lifestyle. New talent emerging in the market post-COVID-19 seeks the flexibility of working efficiently from a location of their choosing.

The UAE is leading the Arab world in digital transformation, having ranked first in the Arab world and 8th globally in the United Nations' Online Service Index (OSI), according to the UN EDGI Report covering 193 countries. The quality of life in the UAE is so enriching that digital nomads continue to flow in for remote work opportunities. The internet speed, quality of life, climate, air, connectivity and prime rents are just some of the key factors that help to entice talent into the country.

What does a remote working visa entail?

The UAE government introduced new visa and immigration terms to make remote work a key attraction. The remote working visa scheme in the UAE allows foreign nationals to work remotely for their overseas employer while living in the UAE for up to one year.

Interested travellers are eligible to apply for the remote work visa in UAE if they can provide proof of employment with a contract valid for one year from their current employer, earn a salary of minimum USD 5,000 per month, and provide the salary slip for the last month and bank statements for the preceding three months. Additionally, they must have a passport with a validity of minimum six months and valid health insurance covering their residency in the UAE. Once qualified, the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing will issue the visa to work in Dubai for the worker’s home country employer. For travellers interested in working in Abu Dhabi, the visa will be issued by The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), and the minimum salary threshold for said remote work visa is USD 3,500 per month.

Once foreign nationals gain the remote working visa, they are entitled to numerous benefits such as telecommunication, transportation, utilities and schooling for their children. They may also open bank accounts, buy or rent properties in the UAE, buy or rent cars and more. The new permit, however, will not allow foreign nationals to generate local work for a company in the UAE. While the UAE has its own tourist attractions, this new visa for remote working employees is poised to attract more people on a more permanent basis and enhance further business opportunities. 

The introduction of this new visa for remote workers by the UAE government has the potential to bring remarkable change in the field of business and communication, providing professionals from around the world with the benefits of the UAE’s living and working environment.

Need to know more?

For further information, please contact Minu Joseph at [email protected] or Nikhil Bande at [email protected]. This blog was published on Tuesday, 26 July 2022, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please visit our dedicated COVID-19 site, subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, twitter, Facebook and Instagram.