The UAE plans to tighten the reviewing and auditing procedures of granting freelance visas, known as the Green Residency, Emirati newspaper Emarat Al Youm reported on Sunday, citing a top official.
The reason behind this intensified scrutiny is to protect rights and regulate the market in a way that serves everyone’s interests, said General Lieutenant Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
UAE Freelance Visa is among the most prominent government initiatives aimed at enabling self-employment and what is known as the talent economy, allowing applicants to legally carry out their professional activities without the need for a sponsor or a traditional employer.
Holders of a Freelance Visa are entitled to legal residency and permits to practice their activity, provided they comply with the required conditions. However, the visa does not grant the right to sponsor other individuals or employ labor under one’s name. Read this Khaleej Times report to know how to apply for a freelance visa in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
In further comments, Al Marri stressed that the country is moving forward in supporting the transition toward a flexible economy.
He denied rumors of suspending freelance visas in the UAE that circulated on social media recently, saying that these visas can still be issued normally via official channels.
Such rumors will not affect the confidence of the community and investors in the UAE’s environment.
He added that a few cases of misuse of this type of residency program or attempts to illegally trade visas were detected. Necessary measures were taken to protect the labor market and maintain the integrity of the system, Al Marri clarified.
He also said that the recent spread of rumors coincided with an increased demand for this particular type of UAE visa.
