Working in Dubai and the UAE 2026: employment, freelancing and your own company

In short: there are three legal ways to work in Dubai: employment with a MOHRE work permit, a freelance licence, or your own company. An employer may not charge a worker recruitment fees, and issuing a work permit costs the employer AED 250 to 3,450. There is no personal income tax, and the 9% corporate tax starts on company income above AED 375,000. A licence in the Meydan free zone costs from AED 12,500.

The UAE remains one of the key destinations for Russian-speaking professionals, entrepreneurs and freelancers. Zero personal income tax, developed infrastructure and a clear system of free economic zones attract those who need a legal working base abroad. This guide covers three routes: opening a company in a free zone, getting a freelance licence and employment through an employer. Prices, salaries and experiences in the text come from Russian-speaking chats from January to July 2026 and are labelled as experience; rules, taxes and fines were checked against official sources on 13 November 2026.

Related topics: how to open a company in the UAE step by step, all ways to get a residence visa, banks and finance in the UAE, a step-by-step guide to moving.

Three routes to legal work in the UAE

Any paid activity in the UAE requires legal registration. This is not a formality: under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (Art. 6), you may not work in the UAE without a valid work permit from MOHRE (the Ministry of Human Resources), and an employer may not hire a worker until the permit is issued. The law sets fines for employers who break this rule (more in the section on fines below). According to chat participants, bad-faith employers exploit workers' fear of sanctions to avoid paying wages.

There are three main routes to legal status:

• Free zone: your own company or licence in one of dozens of UAE free zones. It suits entrepreneurs, remote workers and those who work for foreign clients. The key advantage is simplified registration and 0% corporate tax on qualifying income if the FTA conditions are met (100% foreign ownership has also been available on the mainland for most activities since 2021).
• Freelance Permit: a lightweight licence for individual professionals. According to chat participants, visa issuance through DDA/Gofreelance has been frozen since October 2025, which limits this route, while other free zones, participants write, continue to issue freelance licences.
• Employment Visa: employment with an employer in the UAE. The employer sponsors the visa and bears the processing costs.

Each of these routes gives a UAE residence visa, an Emirates ID and the right to live in the country. The choice depends on your situation: self-employment, your own business or salaried work. More on visa routes in the guide to UAE residence.

Free zone: how to open a company and get a visa

Free economic zones (free zones) are the main tool for those who want to do business or work for themselves in the UAE. The country has many free zones, each with its own specialisation, fees and rules. The principle is the same: you register a company, get a licence (trading, services, consulting, etc.) and apply for a residence visa on the basis of that licence.

Cost: what the chats say

According to Russian-speaking chats (January to July 2026), a licence with a visa through a free zone costs from AED 1,000 to 10,000. The spread, participants say, depends on several factors:

• The choice of free zone: DIFC and DMCC are significantly more expensive than SHAMS or IFZA
• The type of licence: trading is more expensive than services or consulting
• The number of visas in the package: one visa for the owner is cheaper than a package for 3–5 employees
• The term: a one-year vs a two-year licence
• Whether you need a physical office: a virtual office is cheaper than a flexi-desk or separate premises

On top of the licence cost come visa fees (chat participants cite AED 7,000–9,500 for a free zone; this is not an official tariff), the medical fitness test, the Emirates ID and health insurance. In chat participants' experience, start-up costs including all hidden items can be 1.5–2 times higher than the base licence price.

Comparing free zones: SHAMS, IFZA, Meydan, RAKEZ, DMCC

The free zones most popular with Russian-speaking residents:

The zone descriptions reflect chat participants' experience (January to July 2026). A price is given only for Meydan and is taken from the zone's website; for the others, check fees on the free zones' official websites. Parallax's prices for registration in IFZA, Meydan, SHAMS and Ajman NuVentures are collected in the Business in the UAE section, with details on the zones on the IFZA, Meydan and Ajman NuVentures pages.

Choosing a free zone is not only about price. SHAMS and IFZA suit those who work for foreign clients and are not physically tied to Dubai. Meydan and DMCC suit those for whom a presence in Dubai, status and work with large counterparties matter. RAKEZ is for those planning manufacturing or warehousing.

What the package includes (and what it doesn't)

A typical free zone starter package includes:

• A licence for a specific activity (one or more activity codes)
• One residence visa for the owner
• Basic health insurance (a minimum level covering the mandatory requirements)
• A registered address (virtual office)

What is usually not included and paid separately (the amounts below were named by chat participants and are not official tariffs):

• Medical fitness test: the mandatory medical for a visa, ~AED 300–500
• Emirates ID: issuing the identity card (according to ICP, AED 100 for each year of residence plus an AED 100 smart service fee; urgent processing at a centre is another AED 150)
• Physical office: a flexi-desk from AED 500/month; dedicated premises are significantly more expensive
• Additional visas for employees: from AED 3,000 each
• Extended health insurance: the basic cover from the free zone is minimal; good insurance costs AED 7,000–12,500 a year depending on sex and age
• Annual licence renewal: the renewal cost may differ from the starter package, and often upwards
• Accounting and audit: bookkeeping and corporate tax reporting are required for every registered company, while audit requirements depend on the company's status and zone; check them with an accountant
• PRO service (public relations officer): help submitting documents to government bodies, from AED 500 per transaction

It is the hidden costs that often add up to a significant sum. Before signing with a free zone, request a full breakdown: the starter package, all mandatory government fees and the cost of the first renewal.

Annual licence renewal

A free zone licence is not a one-off expense. It has to be renewed every year (or every two, depending on the package). In some free zones the renewal cost is comparable to the starter package; in some it is higher. Visa and health insurance renewals come on top of the licence renewal.

If your income is modest, assess whether the arrangement pays off. For a small freelancer, the cost of maintaining a licence can take a noticeable share of annual income, so calculate the full annual budget before registering.

Mainland vs free zone: the difference

For most Russian-speaking entrepreneurs working for foreign clients, a free zone is the more logical choice: simpler administration and zero corporate tax if the conditions are met.

The mainland makes sense if your business targets the UAE domestic market: retail, food service, construction, services for local clients. According to the chats, the mainland government fee is lower (AED 4,300–6,700 against AED 7,000–9,500 in a free zone), but we found no official comparison, so check the tariff with the regulator.

Opening a bank account for a free zone company

A separate question is a bank account for the company. Not all banks work with all free zones, and not all open accounts for Russian citizens without additional checks. According to the chats, ENBD, Mashreq and ADCB are the most accommodating options. WIO is a digital bank you can try to open online, but there is a risk of the account being closed without explanation.

One chat participant's experience with FAB shows that opening an account is possible, but not always smooth:

"FAB spent a long time digging through some databases, the bank employee consulted someone else, in the end they also said 'OK', but I got the impression it was harder for them."

— from a relocation chat, 2026

More on opening a bank account in the guide to finance in the UAE.

Freelance Permit: the DDA/Gofreelance freeze and alternatives

The Freelance Permit is a lightweight licence for individual professionals: designers, copywriters, programmers, consultants. Until October 2025, Gofreelance (the Dubai Design District, DDA, platform) was, according to chat participants, one of the most popular routes for Russian-speaking freelancers: fast processing, clear fees, minimal bureaucracy.

What happened

According to chat participants, since October 2025 the issuance of freelance visas through DDA/Gofreelance has been frozen: the licence can be renewed, the visa cannot. Participants write that they received confirmation in emails from AXS and the free zone, but we found no official statement from the authorities. Meanwhile, according to the same reports, GDRFAD (the General Directorate of Residency) replies that it "knows nothing about it".

According to the same reports, as of July 2026 the situation remained unclear, and the freeze affected freelancers registered through DDA. Check the current status in the article on the DDA freelance visa freeze and with DDA itself.

For those who already have a freelance visa through DDA: the licence can be renewed, but when the visa expires you will need to switch to an alternative route.

Minimum freelance licence: from AED 550

According to chat participants, a minimum freelance licence (without a visa) starts from AED 550 (details in the article on the Freelance Permit). This is an option for those who only need a licence to work legally and get their visa another way (for example, through a spouse's employer or a Golden Visa). A licence without a visa lets you issue invoices, receive payments to a business account and carry on your activity.

Alternatives to DDA

For those who need a freelance format with a visa, chat participants name these alternatives (check whether a freelance package exists on the zone's website):

• SHAMS (Sharjah): offers freelance packages for media and creative professionals. One of the most affordable options with a visa.
• IFZA (Dubai): similar freelance licences, fast processing.
• RAKEZ (Ras Al Khaimah): a wide range of activities, flexible packages.
• A full company in any free zone: more expensive, but more reliable and without the DDA restrictions. It suits you if you plan to hire staff.

When choosing an alternative free zone, look at the full cost of the package with a visa (licence + visa + insurance + Emirates ID + medical fitness), not just the licence price. In chat participants' experience, the gap between the "advertised" price and real costs can be several thousand AED.

What a freelancer should consider in practice

Besides the licence cost, freelancers in the UAE should bear in mind a few things that are often overlooked.

Health insurance. The basic insurance included in a free zone package covers the minimum; with it, chat participants note, "you can't even get a blood test". According to chat participants' estimates, good insurance costs AED 7,000–9,000 a year for a man aged 30–40 and AED 9,000–12,500 a year for a woman. Policybazaar.ae is a convenient way to compare offers.

"Who arranges the health insurance (you or the company; if the company, it will probably be the basic minimum, with which you can't even get a blood test). Dubai is not a city for pedestrians; you need a car. Hire costs 2.5–3 thousand a month."

— from a relocation chat, February 2026

Internet and communications. In chat participants' experience, some remote-work services (messengers, video calls) may work with restrictions in the UAE. Before moving, check that your work tools function, and check the rules on using a VPN in official sources.

The 180-day rule. A resident who is away from the UAE for more than 180 consecutive days risks losing their visa. Those planning to combine life in the UAE with long trips should take this limit into account. The rule does not apply to the Golden Visa.

Employment Visa: employment through an employer

The most common route for salaried employees. The employer sponsors the visa and handles the documents, and charging candidates recruitment fees is illegal in the UAE (u.ae).

The process step by step

The standard sequence for an employment visa:

1. Signing the offer / employment contract: fixes the salary, position and benefits
2. Entry permit: the employer applies and you receive permission to enter (if you are outside the UAE). The validity of the entry permit is stated on the permit itself
3. Entering the UAE on the entry permit
4. Medical fitness test: a medical (blood test, X-ray, general examination) at authorised centres. For a residence visa, applicants are screened for HIV and tuberculosis (u.ae)
5. Status change: if you are already in the UAE on a tourist visa, the employer arranges a change of status without leaving the country
6. Emirates ID: applying for the identity card. The time to issue the physical card depends on the case
7. Opening a bank account: a salary card that the employer links to the WPS (Wage Protection System)

The whole process from signing the offer to receiving the Emirates ID takes, according to the chats, 2 to 6 weeks depending on the employer and on whether it is in a free zone or on the mainland.

Government fees and what the employer pays

The cost of an employment visa depends on whether the company is on the mainland or in a free zone:

There is an official figure for only one item: according to u.ae, issuing and renewing a MOHRE work permit costs AED 250 to 3,450 depending on the company's category (A, B or C), which reflects its compliance with labour law. The other amounts in the table were named by chat participants and include visa and service fees. Charging a candidate recruitment fees is illegal in the UAE (u.ae). Other terms, such as who pays for insurance, depend on the contract and the law. Before signing an offer, clarify who pays for the visa, medical, Emirates ID and insurance. The process itself is covered in the article on the Employment Visa.

When you join a large (listed) company, the process is usually standardised and quick. One chat participant described her experience:

"In May I opened a salary card with ENBD. It took all of half an hour. And my Emirates ID wasn't ready yet; a copy of the application for it was enough."

— from a relocation chat, June 2026

"And I came in 'just to ask' whether they would open an account and which documents I was missing, and they set everything up on the spot."

This experience is typical for employees of large companies with a good reputation. When you join a small firm, the process may be longer and less predictable: some banks take a long time to check the employer's profile, consult their compliance department, and opening an account can drag on for weeks.

The job title on your visa: what chat participants say

A common question is "What job title will they put on my visa?" In chat participants' experience, the formal title on the visa and the real position do not always match:

"Nah, nobody cares what your visa says... everyone understands. At my previous job the finance directors were registered as some kind of machine operators..."

— from a relocation chat, February 2026

According to chat participants, HR departments register positions according to available quotas and permits, while the actual duties are defined by the employment contract. This is no reason to count on inaccuracies in documents: submitting false information to hire a foreign worker is punishable under the labour relations law, and the fine should be checked in the current text of the law on the MOHRE website.

Sponsor ties and the grace period

An employment visa is tied to the sponsoring employer. This means:

• When you leave the job, the visa is cancelled
• A grace period is granted: according to u.ae, it can be up to 6 months depending on the category; the former 30 days are out of date. During this time you must either find a new employer (and get a new visa) or leave the country
• A new employer can arrange a visa "transfer" without you leaving the UAE, which is simpler and quicker than a visa from scratch
• If the grace period expires with no solution, overstay fines begin: according to u.ae, AED 50 a day

According to chat participants, deportations for minor violations are rare. The law has become softer: grace periods have been extended (u.ae). But do not let the situation drag on: overstay fines accumulate, and without a valid visa you cannot use banking services or health insurance.

If you lose your job, act quickly: update your CV and activate your contacts. The grace period is limited, and a new visa with a new employer also takes time.

Salaries in the UAE: real figures by sector

Salary expectations are one of the most painful questions when moving. Here is what real vacancies from Russian-speaking chats show (January to July 2026):

It is important to understand that the chat data reflect salaries in the "Russian-speaking vacancies" segment: mainly services, sales, beauty and project management. IT and finance are hardly discussed in these channels, but salaries there are usually significantly higher.

Income distribution among Russian speakers

According to chat discussions, the income distribution among Russian-speaking residents looks like this:

"Most Russian speakers, about 60%, earn up to 2,700 dollars a month, about 30% up to 5,500 dollars, and the remaining 10% earn above that."

— from a relocation chat, 2026

In dirhams: 60% earn up to ~AED 10,000 a month, 30% up to ~AED 20,000 a month, and only 10% earn more.

Salaries vs the cost of living

These figures should be compared with the cost of living according to the same chats:

On a salary of up to AED 10,000, living comfortably alone in Dubai is difficult: the minimum budget (AED 11,000) is already above the income. The alternative, according to chat participants, is to live in Sharjah (rent 30–40% cheaper) or rent a room or master room (AED 2,000–5,000 a month instead of 5,000–7,000 for a studio).

A family will need a combined income of at least AED 17,000–20,000. You also need to allow for school fees (according to the chats, from USD 5,000 a year for a budget option) and extended health insurance. Utilities (DEWA, electricity and water) are another AED 600–1,000 a month, given air conditioning running around the clock.

The main advantage of the UAE is zero personal income tax. On a salary of AED 20,000 a month you receive exactly 20,000, with no deductions. In countries with income tax of 13–30%, the same take-home pay would require a significantly higher gross salary.

For those paid through their own free zone company and working for foreign clients, the situation can be significantly better, provided income is stable and well above the minimum budget. More on the cost of living in the guide to moving to the UAE.

How to find a job: platforms, networking and rules

90% of those who found a real job in the UAE, according to chat participants, did so online: they had a video interview and flew in with a signed offer. Arriving "on spec" is a risky strategy that can cost several thousand AED wasted on housing and food.

Job platforms

• LinkedIn: the main platform for middle and senior positions. A profile in English is a must.
• Bayt: a popular Middle Eastern job portal. Many positions in sales, administration and hospitality.
• GulfTalent: aimed at mid-level and senior professionals. You can upload your CV for free.
• Dubizzle Jobs: a local platform with many entry-level vacancies. Be careful: fake vacancies occur.
• Telegram relocation chats: real vacancies are posted, but there are plenty of scammers too.

Key job-search rules

1. Do not pay for a job. u.ae calls charging candidates recruitment fees illegal. If you are asked for money for a job, that is a warning sign.
2. A signed offer before you buy a ticket. Do not come to the UAE on an employer's verbal promise. A document with the terms (salary, position, benefits, who pays for the visa) is a must.
3. Check the employer. The company's trade licence, its presence in the commercial register and reviews in several independent sources are the minimum checks before deciding.
4. Networking works. Dubai has a strong Russian-speaking community. Professional events, business breakfasts and industry chats: vacancies are often filled through contacts before they reach the platforms.
5. A salary below AED 10,000 is a reason to think twice. With a minimum budget of AED 11,000 a month for one person in Dubai, a salary below that level means living in Sharjah, a room instead of a studio and strict economising.

A CV for the UAE: what's different

In the experience of chat participants and recruiters, a CV for the UAE has some features that improve your chances of a response:

• Photo: recommended. Unlike Western markets, a CV with a professional photo is the norm in the UAE
• Format: 1–2 pages, PDF
• Language: English, even if the vacancy is in Russian
• Visa status: state your current visa status and readiness to relocate
• Nationality: in the CV header; this is standard for the region
• Expected salary: you can give a range in AED/month; if unsure, discuss it at the interview

The interview: what employers look at

• Video call: the standard first stage: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams
• Timing: confirm the time zone and a convenient call time in advance
• Dress code: business casual, even for a video call
• Salary: discuss it openly; expectations are stated in AED/month. Clarify the structure: basic salary, allowances (housing, transport), bonuses
• Timelines: in chat participants' experience, from the first interview to an offer usually takes 1–3 weeks, and from the offer to the entry permit another 1–2 weeks

Job scams: how not to become a victim

Job fraud is a frequent topic in Russian-speaking chats. These are not isolated cases: warnings about scammers come up constantly.

Typical schemes

Scheme 1: a fake offer with prepayment. You are promised a job or a visa. They ask for a prepayment, from AED 1,000 to 10,000, for "processing documents", "speeding things up" or "reserving the vacancy". You pay, buy a ticket, fly in, and the contact disappears.

A specific case from a chat:

"Remember we wrote here earlier that a guy named Arystanbek was stuck at the port. He was lured with a job offer, they took about 1,500 AED, asked him to buy his own ticket and fly to Dubai, and then, classic, they vanished."

— from a relocation chat, 2026

The man was left with no money and slept at the airport. Chat members helped him.

Scheme 2: the "recruitment agency". They offer "guaranteed employment" for a fixed sum. They take the money and either disappear or hand over lists of vacancies that are freely available on open platforms.

Scheme 3: the endless "tomorrow". You are already in the UAE and are promised that your documents will be done "any day now". Weeks pass. Promises of "I'll pay you back", constant excuses, then silence. You spend money on housing and food, and there are still no documents.

Scheme 4: visa and document fraud. A separate category is intermediaries who promise to arrange a visa or a driving licence. Specific cases from the chats: losses of AED 10,000+ on promises to "sort out a licence and a visa". The typical sequence is a prepayment, constant excuses, silence. UAE police accept complaints in such cases.

Red flags

• They ask for a prepayment for anything at all (processing documents, "speeding things up", "reserving the vacancy")
• The vacancy is too good to be true: a salary above market with minimal requirements
• No official company website: only Telegram or WhatsApp, with a personal number as the contact
• They push urgency: "the place is going, transfer today"
• They ask for personal documents before an offer: passport scans, photos
• A verbal contract: "we'll sort it all out later, just come"
• Cash in hand rather than to a company account: a legal company does not accept cash from future employees
• They ask for a transfer to a personal card rather than to a company account

What to do if you encounter fraud

• File a police report: UAE police act on reports
• Contact MOHRE if it relates to employment: u.ae lists the services for filing complaints
• Contact your country's consulate
• Post in Telegram relocation chats: the community really helps (in the case above, it was chat members who helped)

The main rule:

"The main thing: don't pay anyone in advance, pay only on delivery."

— from a relocation chat, 2026

Fines for illegal work

Working without registration is not a "grey area" but an offence: under Art. 6 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 you may not work without a MOHRE permit, and an employer may not hire without one (u.ae). The fines for hiring without a permit are set by this law and have changed. According to the state news agency WAM on 12 August 2024, amendments to the law introduced a fine of AED 100,000 to 1,000,000 for employers who hire workers without a proper permit. The consolidated text of the law on the MOHRE website did not open on 13 November 2026, and the English text of the law on u.ae is published without these amendments, so check the amount with MOHRE before making decisions. The table below contains only what official pages confirm:

The problem is made worse by bad-faith employers using this mechanism as leverage:

"They know that if there's a complaint about illegal work, the worker also faces a 10,000 dirham fine, so they don't hesitate to cheat."

— from a relocation chat, 2026

A typical situation: an employer hires without registration, does not pay wages and knows the worker will be afraid to complain because, as the stories go, they too could face sanctions. The AED 10,000 figure for workers is cited in the chats; we found no official confirmation.

What to do if you are already in this situation

If you find yourself in illegal employment, contact MOHRE: the Ministry of Human Resources accepts complaints against employers. You can file a complaint through MOHRE's services (listed on u.ae) or call the Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on the toll-free number 80084. The law places responsibility for hiring without a permit on the employer, while the risks for the worker depend on the situation, so consult MOHRE before making decisions.

If you have no contact with the people who set up the company or visa, call MOHRE and file a request for closure. According to chat participants, the cancellation takes place within 5 days.

Do not stay in illegal employment out of fear of a fine: it leads to even greater risks: unpaid wages, lost money and deportation in a random inspection.

Government fees: how not to overpay intermediaries

A separate topic is intermediaries inflating the cost of processing. According to chat participants:

"Lots of 'helpers' and runners charge 2x, 3x on top of the government fee. Especially our hapless 'specialists' from the CIS. Don't trust anyone. Double-check everything yourself."

— from a relocation chat, 2026

The problem is compounded by the fact that the UAE information system is not always transparent:

"The information system and digital database are a mess. Government fees on websites aren't always transparent. Many 'helpers' charge 2–3x. Don't trust anyone, double-check everything yourself."

— from a relocation chat, 2026

Government fees: what the chats cite

Free zones set their own fees, so the amounts in the table depend on the specific zone and visa term. Check the exact amount in the zone's and authority's tariffs.

An example of overcharging

An example with figures from the chats: if an intermediary asks AED 15,000–20,000 for a free zone employment visa while the government fee is AED 7,000–9,500, the difference (AED 5,500–10,500) is the intermediary's mark-up. A service fee of AED 1,000–2,000 for handling the submission is reasonable. A mark-up of 2–3 times on top of the government fee is not.

How to check

1. Go to u.ae (the official UAE government portal)
2. Find the section for your service (visa services, business registration)
3. Compare the government cost with the intermediary's offer
4. Ask the intermediary for a written breakdown: the government fee separately, the service fee separately
5. A difference of more than 30–50% is a reason to look for another provider

Visa and immigration services in Dubai are provided by Amer centres, listed on the GDRFA Dubai website, and work permits are processed through MOHRE's services. Compare the intermediary's price with these channels.

Corporate tax: what you need to know

Corporate tax in the UAE applies to financial years starting on or after 1 June 2023 (u.ae), at a rate of 9%. Key points:

Who it affects

• Threshold: the tax applies to taxable income above AED 375,000 a year. Income up to this threshold is taxed at 0%.
• Free zones: if the qualifying income conditions are met, the rate is 0%. QFZP (Qualifying Free Zone Person) status requires meeting the FTA's conditions, including real presence; income that does not meet the definition of qualifying income is taxed at 9%.
• Personal income tax: still 0%: there is no income tax for individuals. This remains one of the main advantages of the UAE.
• Registration: all companies must register with the FTA (Federal Tax Authority), even if their income is below the threshold.

In practice for freelancers and small businesses

For most freelancers and small entrepreneurs with taxable profit of up to AED 375,000 a year, corporate tax is effectively zero. For free zone companies, 0% on qualifying income applies only with QFZP status.

However, the obligation to register with the FTA and file returns is real. That means extra costs for an accountant (or your own time on reporting). Late corporate tax registration carries a fine of AED 10,000. The FTA waives it for those who filed their first return within 7 months of the end of their first tax period. More on rates and reporting in the article on taxes in the UAE.

When corporate tax becomes a real expense

If your company's profit (not turnover, but profit) exceeds AED 375,000 a year, you pay 9% on the excess. Example: with a profit of AED 500,000, the tax is 9% of AED 125,000 = AED 11,250. A noticeable but not critical sum.

For a QFZP, the rate on qualifying income remains 0%, but check the conditions of the status in advance with an accountant.

Relocating employees and remote teams

If you are considering relocating a team or individual employees to the UAE, that is a separate route with its own specifics. The sponsoring company can arrange an employment visa for each employee. The number of visas depends on the licence type and the zone's package: for example, Meydan states a quota of 1 to 6 visas, SHAMS up to 50 visas per licence depending on the structure.

Each additional visa means separate costs: the zone fee, medical, Emirates ID and insurance. The total depends on the zone and the number of visas, so ask the zone for an itemised quote. Chats cite a family visa cost of AED 3,000–5,000 per person, but the actual tariff depends on the case.

What to look out for: a checklist

Before deciding on a work visa in the UAE, check:

• Route: free zone, freelance or employment: which suits your situation
• Processing budget: licence + visa + insurance + Emirates ID + medical + possible hidden costs
• Living budget: at least AED 11,000 a month for one person, 17,000+ for a family
• DDA/Gofreelance status: if you plan to freelance, check whether the freeze is still in place
• Employer: if employed, check the licence, that the company is real and the contract terms
• Government fees: compare the intermediary's offer with u.ae
• Health insurance: the basic cover from a free zone is minimal; good insurance, according to the chats, costs AED 7,000–12,500 a year
• The 180-day rule: a resident away for more than 180 days may lose their visa (does not apply to the Golden Visa)
• Bank account: for some nationalities, including Russian citizens, opening an account can take time, so plan ahead
• Heat: summer in the UAE is hot, and many residents, according to chat participants, leave for that period

Need help with your UAE setup?

Choosing a free zone, selecting a licence, comparing packages, submitting documents, opening a bank account: each of these steps has its nuances. Mistakes along the way have a concrete price: the wrong free zone can cost more than expected; a missed renewal deadline means a fine and a new application; an incorrectly issued licence can make it impossible to open a bank account.

Parallax helps you through the whole journey from choosing a free zone to getting a residence visa: a company in IFZA, Meydan, SHAMS or Ajman NuVentures, the visa, the account and tax registration are described in the Business in the UAE section. Specialists on the ground, staged payment, support at every step. If you want to discuss your scenario, fill in the consultation form.