Freelancers in UAE earn up to Dh3,600 per day; top roles revealed
A recent report reveals that freelancers in the UAE can earn up to $1,000 (Dh3,600) daily. The most sought-after skills for freelancers consist of cards portfolio management together with project and product management and data analytics and business development and risk management starting from $300 (Dh1,100) per day.
Outsized's independent talent platform published the 2025 Talent on Demand report which revealed a 78 per cent rise in freelancer registrations across the Mena region during the last year.
Azeem Zainulbhai, managing director for Mena and India at Outsized explained that independent professionals in the UAE earn varying day rates based on their experience level and industry specialization as well as the complexity of their projects.
Freelancers managing card portfolios make $275 to $325 per day during their first five years but those with 11 to 15 years of experience can earn between $725 to $875 per day. Beginning project managers average daily earnings of $250 which rise to a range of $525 to $675 per day for individuals who have more than ten years of professional experience.
Freelancers working in data and analytics receive daily compensation that ranges from $225 to $750. New product managers earn daily rates ranging from $175 to $225 while experienced product managers can reach earnings of up to $600 per day. The daily earnings of business development professionals typically range from $425 to $675.
Professionals with 15 or more years of experience in these fields typically earn premium rates when they showcase specialized knowledge or experience working on complicated projects with significant impact.
UAE’s freelancing community
Zainulbhai announced that the UAE freelance market experiences a yearly growth rate of 10 per cent. The trend demonstrates that professionals see independent work as a stable career choice while UAE businesses value flexible expertise to advance their transformation goals.
The report noted that the region continues to face a substantial supply-demand discrepancy. Skilled professionals receive higher pay rates in the region compared to their counterparts in South Asia and South Africa. The talent shortage has driven businesses to adopt flexible staffing strategies including independent consultants and short-term project workers because they allow companies to remain agile without making long-term employment commitments.
Visa options
Freelancers in the UAE can choose from different visa and residency programs. The UAE implemented a five-year Green Visa scheme for freelancers and self-employed professionals which does not require sponsorship starting in 2022.
Zainulbhai explained that freelancers can submit applications through multiple free zones including Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City among other locations. Freelancer visa applicants will pay between Dh2,000 and Dh12,000 for their visa while the document submission approval process typically requires seven to 10 days.
He emphasized that planning is essential for freelancers who want to work in the UAE. Professionals who want to move into independent work must develop a solid portfolio which highlights concrete outcomes from their previous projects.
According to Outsized businesses across the Middle East region are starting to acknowledge the advantages independent talent delivers through speed, quality and flexibility.
Companies across Saudi Arabia and the UAE are employing skilled independent consultants and freelancers to boost their high-priority projects while minimizing hiring risks and maintaining cost competitiveness according to Zainulbhai.
Research and “proprietary data points from real projects” from its platform form the base for the 2025 Talent on Demand report.
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