Dubai Remote Work Visa

Living in Dubai as a digital nomad

Living in Dubai is a unique experience. You won’t find anywhere that’s like this city. It provides a luxurious lifestyle, with one-of-a-kind architecture and man-made structures that are an amazing sight. Unfortunately, this lifestyle comes with a price. It can be quite expensive to live in Dubai, but it can be worth it for the quality of life you can get. The community is amazing, and the services and experiences Dubai has to offer are unique and interesting.

Dubai has a lot to offer digital nomads and remote workers. Being such a modern city, there are multiple opportunities for ex-pats. There are plenty of places to work from, great accommodation options, and the people are very open and welcoming.

A downside of the city is the weather as the sun shows up all year round. The city can become unbearable with the heat, and the hot desert climate can get on your nerves.

Attractions and best places to visit

There are many exciting places that you must visit while staying in Dubai. If you’re looking for an adventure and something thrilling, then check out The Burj Khalifa. It’s the tallest building in the world, at 828 meters! The building can get crowded, but you can take one of the fastest lifts in the world up to the viewing floors where you’ll enjoy the amazing panorama of the city.

If you’re looking for adventure, definitely head towards the Aquaventure Waterpark. This is Dubai’s most famous water park, home to the world’s best water slides. Close to this waterpark, there is Atlantis The Palm Hotel, which is a key landmark in Dubai. You can also visit the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah, which is a luxury hotel inspired by the myth of Atlantis.

Dubai isn’t just about luxury, it also has some beautiful neighborhoods that are still traditional and authentic. You should visit the Deira district and its souks. Taking a stroll around the place is an amazing experience, especially if you go through the different bazaars scattered all around the area.

Another typical district to visit is Bur Dubai. This neighborhood is one of the oldest in the city, and it is located just opposite Deira. In order to get there, you must take an Abra, which is a small traditional boat. You’ll get to enjoy the scenery and see many Dhows, which are old ships with bright colors supplying the souks with goods.

Digital nomad hotspots

The city of Dubai is divided into different districts. As mentioned before, the most traditional and authentic ones are the Bur Dubai and Deira districts.

The popular hotspots for digital nomads and other remote workers are Downtown Dubai and Business Bay. You will find great Wi-Fi access and plenty of amenities to enjoy.

Dubai is also known as a high-end business center. There are plenty of opportunities in the city! Even though as a digital nomad, you most likely already have a secure job, you should know that Dubai is full of business opportunities. Hundreds of companies have their branches in the city, and they offer a competitive and encouraging business environment.

Cost of Living

As mentioned before, Dubai can be very expensive compared to other cities.

You can rent a studio apartment in the city center for $2,042/month. Airbnbs cost around $3,432/month, so it is much better to find an apartment to rent.

You can buy a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for $10. A cappuccino costs $5.11 and a beer costs around $12.

Getting around Dubai is easy. It has two convenient Metro lines (red and green), and they run through the busiest areas of the city. There are also many low-cost buses that run 24-hours. Make sure to purchase a Nol Card, a rechargeable card you can use for the metro, bus, taxis, and trams. We recommend you get the Silver Nol Card, which is the starter card for regular use. The Silver Nol Card costs 25AED ($6.81) upfront, and it can be loaded up to 100AED ($27).

Digital nomad essentials

Dubai City keeps growing each year and there are always new places to explore. Thankfully, Dubai has a lot of places perfect for nomads to work remotely and there are many benefits to living here.

Dubai is a smart city, which means there are many places that offer free wifi. Every day, you get one hour of free Wi-Fi on your phone. You can subscribe to a premium package for more time online. However, in order to get the free Wi-Fi, you need a UAE phone number, so make sure to get a SIM card. You’ll pay around $25-$30 per month for access to high-speed wifi.

The digital nomad visa for Dubai scheme allows foreign nationals to work remotely for their employers outside of the United Arab Emirates while living in the UAE for up to one year. In order to renew it, you must re-apply as per the standard application process.

There are many benefits of the Remote Working Visa scheme. There are no nationality restrictions, which means anyone can apply for the visa. Also, the scheme does not require sponsorship. Instead, they must have worked for their current employer for at least three years prior to submitting their application.

During the one-year duration of the digital nomad visa for Dubai, successful applicants are provided with a resident ID and access to most public services and facilities like other residents in the city. You can rent a house or any other accommodation, open bank accounts, enroll your kids in local schools or apply for a bank loan (if you are able to find banks or financial institutions which offer suitable loans for their conditions).

Remote workers can travel in and out freely and leave the UAE during the one-year visa duration, but an absence for more than 6 consecutive months will result in an automatic nullification of your visa.

How to Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for Dubai

All applicants can apply for the Remote Working Visa in-country or from outside the United Arab Emirates. You can apply online or through accredited typing centers.

Once you fill out the corresponding form and submit all your paperwork, your application will be reviewed. All applications are reviewed and processed by al Rais Travel Agencies LLC, which are official partners of DTCM.

It has been confirmed on the website that each Remote Work Visa only lasts for exactly 12 months. Once it’s expired, digital nomads have to reapply and resubmit all documents from the start, and a new visa will be issued if the applicant still meets the requirements.

The application process should follow these steps:

1. Check out the requirements to qualify
2. Gather the needed documents
3. Fill out the forms
4. Submit the forms and documentation to the correct authority
5. Wait for approval

How Much Does it Cost to Apply for a Dubai Remote Work Visa?

The government fee for the Remote Work Visa is approximately $81. This excludes the medical examination and the fees for the Emirates ID card.

Your application will undergo review by the authorities before the final result is delivered to you. Costs will not be refunded in case your application is denied, which is the case with most of these programs.

Paying Taxes on a Dubai Digital Nomad Visa

In Dubai, like in the UAE in general, there are no personal income taxes. That means that if you are a tax resident in the UAE, you won’t be taxed on your income. This is of course very interesting for nomads.

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. You should still take into account that your home country (or any other country you have ties to) wants to tax you. Definitely if they know you actually don’t need to pay any taxes in the UAE. In order to avoid any taxation, you need to have a thorough look at the applicable double tax treaties and make sure your setup is right. Therefore, we would advise you to always consult with our tax advisor before starting your adventure in the UAE.

Timeline for Applying

After submitting your application for the digital nomad visa for Dubai, the reviewing and processing time is five to seven days.
For more information about the Remote Work Visa, check out the official website!

Curious about what digital nomad visas you qualify for? Enter your details in our Visa Wizard to find out!