What Are the Top 10 Best Paid Freelance Jobs in the UAE?

The UAE has ranked first in the Arab World and 31st in the world in the remote working index published by UK-based Circle Loop. The country has also experienced a 197% increase in recruiting freelancers in the digital sector in 2020 according to the World Economic Forum.

Meanwhile, Companies around the UAE are replacing full time positions with freelancers to cut costs according to a new research which polled more than 180 senior professionals across the region.

Free zones make the process of having a sponsor cheaper and easier by creating special licences that can be arranged through Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Design District, twofour54 in Abu Dhabi, RAKEZ in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah Creative City.

You can also create a residence visa without a sponsor under Freelance Licence, which almost covers all sectors.

The permits cost between Dh6,000 and Dh7,500 a year, and increase by as much as Dh4,960 for those needing a visa. However, there’s additional payment for the first time for health insurance and other fees associated with getting an Emirates ID.

These freelance jobs are best paid in the UAE according to the National

1. A tutor

Earn Dh32,000 to Dh60,000 a month (Dh350 to Dh660 per hour)

Tutors in the UAE charge by the hour, starting at Dh350 and going up to Dh660, depending on their qualifications, and the academic stage of the child.

2. Freelance Personal trainer

Earn Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 a month (Dh325 to Dh500 per hour). In the UAE, personal trainers charge between Dh325 and Dh500 for a one-to-one hour-long session. It cal

This goes up to about Dh600 an hour if you work for an agency, but in that circumstance the company will take a cut of your pay, often as much as half.

3. Freelance make-up artist or hair stylist

Earn Dh20,000 to Dh50,000 (Dh500 to Dh800 per hour)

The fee stylists can earn depends on the client. The pay at a corporate photo-shoot can vary between Dh1,000 and Dh3,000 for a nine-hour day.

Private clients pay about Dh500 to Dh800 for an hour of make-up, depending on the look and the product choices, Elena Zhosan, 32, a freelance make-up artist from Ukraine told the National.

4. Freelance Interior designer

Earn Dh10,000 to Dh50,000 per month

For medium to large projects, freelance interior designers tend to ask for a commission of 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the budget.

For smaller projects or area remodelling, designers charge between Dh3,000 and Dh8,000, with bathrooms costing more than bedrooms because it is more complicated.

5. Work as a self-employed web designer

Earn Dh15,000 to Dh30,000 a month

Designers charge according to the style of website desired by the client. Fees for an e-commerce site start at Dh8,000, up to Dh25,000, and take about four weeks of work.

Static webpages can need as little as a week and cost between Dh3,000 and Dh5,000. They will include an inquiry form, a Google map and a live chat function.

A dynamic webpage, with a blog function, for example, costs from Dh6,000 to Dh8,000.

6. Freelance sports instructor

Earn Dh15,000 to Dh25,000 a month (Dh150 to Dh350 per hour)

Full-time gym employees earn between Dh10,000 and Dh15,000 a month depending on their level of experience, whereas to host an hour long one-to-one session as a freelancer, an instructor can expect to earn Dh150 to Dh200.

Self-employed tennis and swimming instructors tend to be paid slightly more (Dh350 an hour), but often have to factor in the rental costs for a court or swimming pool in their fees.

7. Freelance journalist

Earn Dh15,000 to Dh20,000 per month (Dh100 to Dh125 per hour) Freelance journalists tend to be paid by the shift, or by the word.

For an eight-hour day the expected salary is between Dh800 and Dh1,000 depending on experience, and the timings. TV work can pay considerably more.

Writers are often paid by the word rather than by the hour, with Dh1 or Dh1.5 per word the norm.

8. Life coach in the UAE

Earn Dh12,000 to Dh18,000 a month (Dh300 to Dh700 per hour)

"If you are just starting out you can expect anything from Dh300 to Dh700 per hour for a one-to-one. But I recommend people build up their name in the market by offering free workshops and sessions. Leila Almaeena, 43, who runs her own training and development company in Dubai told the National.

Established life coaches, who can charge as much as Dh3,000 an hour.

9. Freelance marketing or PR professional in the UAE

Earn Dh6,000 to Dh14,000 per month as a junior, or Dh60,000 to Dh100,00 in a senior role

Freelance junior executives are normally hired on a month-by-month basis to work on specific projects, and their fees can start at Dh6,000 a month and go up to Dh14,000.

Experienced marketing and PR professionals can demand a day rate of Dh3,000 to Dh5,000, depending on the client's requirements.

10. Freelance Nanny

Earn Dh800 to Dh4,800 a month (Dh25 to Dh150 per hour)

The pay varies widely according to skills and nationality. European nannies can earn as much as Dh150 an hour, but the pay range starts much lower, at about Dh25 an hour.

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