Dubai Digital Nomad Visa

Today, some firms throughout the world have embraced 100% remote or hybrid work policies, boosting the remote work culture. Many people are choosing to live a digital nomad lifestyle as a result of the ability to work from anywhere. Countries are now providing digital nomad visas to enable them to work overseas.

Dubai, like many other countries, has jumped on board with digital nomad visas. “Work Remotely from Dubai” is the name of Dubai’s digital nomad visa. Since March 2021, Dubai has been welcoming remote workers and digital nomads through its Work Remotely from Dubai program.

This post will go through Dubai’s digital nomad visa policy in further depth.

The Advantages of Working as a Digital Nomad in Dubai

Working as a digital nomad in Dubai as part of the Work Remotely from Dubai program provides the following advantages:

Tax-free. You are not required to pay income tax, capital gains tax, withholding tax, or local taxes as a digital nomad in Dubai. You are expected to pay taxes back home, but you are not required to prove it.

High healthcare system. Dubai has an excellent healthcare system with cutting-edge facilities and a high degree of medical care. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) regulates both public and private healthcare services in the city-state. Many expats opt for private healthcare. In Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a modern medical complex offering advanced private health care spanning 150 specialties, there are over 130 facilities to choose from.

Access to facilities. When applicants acquire their visas and arrive in the UAE, they will be handed an Emirates ID. The Emirates ID is a document that can be used for a variety of purposes in daily life. You will have access to various services if you have the ID, such as banking, phone lines, housing rentals, and, if you have children, the ability to enroll them in local schools.

Fast internet access. The fixed internet speed is 189.27 Mbps, while the mobile connection is 273.87 Mbps. The majority of foreigner accommodations in the UAE have speeds of more than 100 Mbps, so you should have no problems with your wifi. It will be sufficient for daily
surfing and Zoom calls, as well as heavy streaming. Furthermore, the 4G network is first-rate.

Dubai Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

The following documents are necessary to apply for a digital nomad visa in Dubai:

• Online visa application form completed. Work Remotely from Dubai’s official website has an application form that you can fill out.
• The passport must be valid. Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
• A digital passport photograph. Your passport photo must be 45mm/35mm in size and have a white backdrop.
• Reservation of accommodation. To confirm your accommodation, you will need a hotel reservation, a lease, or a rental agreement.
• Medical coverage. To travel to Dubai, you must have medical insurance tailored for digital nomads and remote professionals living overseas. Health insurance must be valid in the UAE.
• Documents for business owners include:
  • Proof of one-year or longer company ownership
  • A monthly income of at least $5,000 is required.
  • Bank statements from the previous three months
• Employee documentation:
  • Evidence of employment with a one-year contract
  • Payslip from the previous month
  • A monthly salary of at least $5,000 is required.
  • Bank statements from the previous three months

How to Apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Dubai

You must apply for a digital nomad visa in Dubai online at the official Work Remotely from the Dubai website. The following is the application procedure:

1. Prepare the relevant paperwork. The documents required are listed above under “Requirements for Dubai Digital Nomad Visa.” The documents must be written in English and digitized.
2. Navigate to the official website. You can apply for the program on Work Remotely from Dubai’s official website. There, you must fill out a brief application form with personal information such as your name, email address, nationality, and phone number. A member of their team will contact you to proceed with the application.
3. Watch for a response. Following submission, you will receive an email. There will be additional instructions, so read them carefully.
4. Feel free to send the docs. Following the email, you must send the needed documentation to workvirtual@dubaitourism.ae. The paperwork can be found in the section titled “Requirements for Dubai Digital Nomad Visa.” Dubai Tourism and commercial marketing travel partner Al Rais Travel Agencies LLC will assess the documentation and application.
5. Wait for a response. You will receive an email with payment instructions and the total cost.
6. Pay the charges. The Dubai digital nomad visa costs $611. This sum covers the $287 application fee and additional processing fees, as well as the medical insurance premium and Emirates ID. You will receive an email welcoming you to Dubai once you have entered your payment card details.
7. Make an appointment with a doctor. This step can be completed after arriving in Dubai, however, it may be more convenient to complete it before flying there.
8. Travel to Dubai. You can travel to Dubai once your visa is approved.
9. Go to the medical appointment. You have approximately one month to attend the medical appointment. Your findings will be available in two weeks.
10. Go to the biometrics department. After receiving your medical results, you will be given a list of offices where you can do biometrics and fill out an application form. Then, print the medical results and the application form, and take them to one of the biometrics offices.
11. Obtain a passport stamp. You will receive a call requesting that you bring your passport to be stamped. This procedure will take one day.
12. Obtain your residency card. The government should send you an SMS informing you that your residence card is at a post office. Get your residency card and spend a year in Dubai.

In addition, depending on your nationality, you may require a visa to enter Dubai. Please keep in mind that you can enter Dubai with a tourist visa and later apply for a digital nomad visa, however, the fees may vary.

What is the cost of the Dubai Digital Nomad Visa?

The Dubai digital nomad visa costs $611. This sum covers the $287 application fee and additional processing fees, as well as the medical insurance premium and Emirates ID.

Please keep in mind that simply paying the processing fee does not guarantee that your visa will be approved. Additional fees may apply based on your country of citizenship, the nature of the services requested, and other circumstances.

Time It Takes to Get a Digital Nomad Visa in Dubai

The processing time for a digital nomad visa in Dubai is between thirty and sixty days.

 

How Long Can I Work as a Digital Nomad in Dubai?

The Dubai digital nomad visa is available for one year and is renewed upon re-application.

 

Paying Taxes in Dubai as a Digital Nomad

Individuals in the UAE are not taxed on their earnings. Oil corporations and international banks, on the other hand, must pay corporate taxes. Furthermore, excise taxes are levied on specific commodities that are hazardous to human health or the environment. Finally, the vast majority of products and services are liable to VAT.

You are not required to pay income tax, capital gains tax, withholding tax, or local taxes as a digital nomad in Dubai. You are assumed to pay taxes back home, but you are not required to prove it.