Hajra Naz
Freelancers in the UAE are securing daily rates as high as $1,000 (Dh3,600), according to the 2025 Talent on Demand Report by Outsized. High-demand skills include cards portfolio management, project management, data analytics, business development, and risk management, with starting rates from $300 (Dh1,100) per day.
Freelancer Earnings in the UAE
Azeem Zainulbhai, Managing Director for MENA & India at Outsized, explains that freelancer rates depend on experience, industry, and project complexity. Here’s a breakdown of daily rates:
Cards Portfolio Management
- 0-5 years: $275 – $325
- 11-15 years: $725 – $875
Project Management:
- Entry-level: $250
- 10+ years: $525 – $675
Data & Analytics: $225 – $750
Product Management
- Beginners: $175 – $225
- Experienced professionals: Up to $600
Business Development: $425 – $675
Senior professionals with 15+ years of experience or specialized expertise can command even higher rates, particularly for high-impact projects.
The Expanding Freelance Economy of the UAE
In the UAE, the freelance economy is becoming more popular, growing at 10% a year. This is due to the increase in businesses that appreciate flexibility and specialization. However, the lack of skilled workers has raised the income levels for freelancers as compared to regions like South Asia and South Africa.
Freelancer Visa Options in the UAE
The self-employment visa options available include the five-year Green Visa that enables self-employed professionals to work without a sponsor. Free zones such as Dubai Media City (DMC) and Dubai Internet City (DIC) issue freelance visas at prices between Dh2,000 to Dh12,000 and take 7 to 10 days to approve.
Freelancing as a Career Path
Sustaining a solid portfolio is integral for anyone venturing into freelancing. An increasing number of businesses have started using freelancers for specific projects due to the UAE’s digital initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which lowered the costs and increased the speed of task completion.
This document is a contribution to the Outsized Talent on Demand series and relies on the proprietary 2025 report together with primary research from actual projects on the Outsized platform.
