Can you imagine moving to another country for several months in order to do the same kind of work you were doing at home? Perhaps you have never visited the Arabian Peninsula, and you would like to get the full experience of exploring the United Arab Emirates. This is an example of the life of a digital nomad, a lifestyle that has been around for a while, but which became globally recognized during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, when working from home became one of the best ways to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
A digital nomad can be an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or a salaried employee; the common denominator is the way they get their work done and how they are able to manage their personal finances. If you can earn a living by connecting to the internet without being tied to a specific desk, you are effectively a remote worker. If your professional life allows you to submit work from anywhere in the world, you can become a digital nomad, and the UAE could be an ideal place to work from.
The UAE recently joined Bermuda, Costa Rica, Croatia, Estonia, and about a dozen other nations where digital nomads can get a special visa permit, usually good for a year, to live and work in a remote capacity.
In the past, Dubai had experimented with various work and business visas that granted extended stay periods to foreigners, but the various options ended up becoming intricate and confusing; moreover, you pretty much had to either work for a company with a Dubai presence or else incorporate yourself as a sole proprietor in the Emirate. While this was not as bad as it may sound, the reality of the new remote worker visa for moving companies in Dubai.
With this new UAE visa initiative, all you need to do is present evidence of being actively engaged in remote work, having access to liquid assets, being properly vaccinated, and having a comprehensive medical insurance plan. You also need to earn at least $5,000 per month, but not necessarily from a single job. Let’s say you earn $2,500 a month as a cloud computing technician but you also happen to be the beneficiary of a trust that will disburse $3,000 per month over the next few years; your combined salary and trust fund receipts would be sufficient to cover this visa requirement.
As a member of the UAE federal council, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi of Ras al Khaimah gave an enthusiastic vote of approval to this new visa, and he had a very good reason for doing so. In recent years, the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah has emerged as a sensible and smart alternative to Dubai for travelers who wish to get a more authentic taste of Arabian hospitality. Unlike Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Ras al Khaimah does not have the benefit of oil riches; however, it enjoys very high quality of life for various reasons, and it has become the jewel of tourism in the Arabian Peninsula.
In addition to a 12-month visa for remote workers, Ras al Khaimah has launched a program called “Live RAK Play,” which competes directly with Dubai in terms of attracting digital nomads. The visa requirements and the overall process is pretty much the same as in the other Emirates, but Live RAK Play will give you considerable discounts in accommodations and attractions; plus, visa recipients will also get freebies such as desert excursions and safaris.
UAE officials expect great demand for this new visa program, particularly among young professionals who may have previously wanted to visit Dubai, one of the hottest urban destinations in the world, but they should not overlook Ras al Khaimah, especially if they intend to bring their families. Ras al Khaimah is blessed with milder weather thanks to its geographic position and altitude; furthermore, it is more affordable than Dubai and not as densely populated. In ancient times, Ras al Khaimah was an important center of Arabian trade, and merchants used to enjoy the many oasis spots in the desert. These days, the oases are surrounded by luxurious hotels that offer indulgence at reasonable prices.
A digital nomad can be an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or a salaried employee; the common denominator is the way they get their work done and how they are able to manage their personal finances. If you can earn a living by connecting to the internet without being tied to a specific desk, you are effectively a remote worker. If your professional life allows you to submit work from anywhere in the world, you can become a digital nomad, and the UAE could be an ideal place to work from.
The UAE recently joined Bermuda, Costa Rica, Croatia, Estonia, and about a dozen other nations where digital nomads can get a special visa permit, usually good for a year, to live and work in a remote capacity.
In the past, Dubai had experimented with various work and business visas that granted extended stay periods to foreigners, but the various options ended up becoming intricate and confusing; moreover, you pretty much had to either work for a company with a Dubai presence or else incorporate yourself as a sole proprietor in the Emirate. While this was not as bad as it may sound, the reality of the new remote worker visa is that it is an easier and smarter option for digital nomads.
With this new UAE visa initiative, all you need to do is present evidence of being actively engaged in remote work, having access to liquid assets, being properly vaccinated, and having a comprehensive medical insurance plan. You also need to earn at least $5,000 per month, but not necessarily from a single job. Let’s say you earn $2,500 a month as a cloud computing technician but you also happen to be the beneficiary of a trust that will disburse $3,000 per month over the next few years; your combined salary and trust fund receipts would be sufficient to cover this visa requirement.
As a member of the UAE federal council, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi of Ras al Khaimah gave an enthusiastic vote of approval to this new visa, and he had a very good reason for doing so. In recent years, the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah has emerged as a sensible and smart alternative to Dubai for travelers who wish to get a more authentic taste of Arabian hospitality. Unlike Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Ras al Khaimah does not have the benefit of oil riches; however, it enjoys very high quality of life for various reasons, and it has become the jewel of tourism in the Arabian Peninsula.
In addition to a 12-month visa for remote workers, Ras al Khaimah has launched a program called “Live RAK Play,” which competes directly with Dubai in terms of attracting digital nomads. The visa requirements and the overall process is pretty much the same as in the other Emirates, but Live RAK Play will give you considerable discounts in accommodations and attractions; plus, visa recipients will also get freebies such as desert excursions and safaris.
UAE officials expect great demand for this new visa program, particularly among young professionals who may have previously wanted to visit Dubai, one of the hottest urban destinations in the world, but they should not overlook Ras al Khaimah, especially if they intend to bring their families. Ras al Khaimah is blessed with milder weather thanks to its geographic position and altitude; furthermore, it is more affordable than Dubai and not as densely populated. In ancient times, Ras al Khaimah was an important center of Arabian trade, and merchants used to enjoy the many oasis spots in the desert. These days, the oases are surrounded by luxurious hotels that offer indulgence at reasonable prices.
