In line with the initiative of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai - to grant 100,000 golden visas (GVs) to entrepreneurs and start-ups working in the coding sector, and under the framework of the “National Programme for Coders”, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development has announced update of the Freelancer licence activities list for all UAE citizens, residents and foreigners to cover the “Computer Systems and Software Designing” activity.

Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development recently released a decision regarding the issuance of licences to practise self-employment activities (Freelancer Licence), where the decision identified 52 economic activities including IT consultations and web development.

The Freelancer Licence aims at recruiting local talents, and attracting the best international coding and programming professionals to Abu Dhabi. To reserve a position in the Abu Dhabi market, the applicant, being a citizen, a resident or a foreigner, must prove his/her relevant skillset and submit the certificates testifying his/her education and recognising his/her achievements.

His Excellency Rashid Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of the Department, stressed the keenness of the Abu Dhabi government to support the national efforts to establish 1,000 mega companies in the IT sector in the next five years to participate in the UAE’s digital economy march and to support the digital transformation in various key sectors.

His Excellency noted that this recent update of the Freelancer Licence list of activities by the Department opens up the possibility of attracting highly skilled programmers from all around the world. While establishment of a legal entity is an important step for growth in the business sector, Abu Dhabi government, by this decision, paves the road for new IT unicorns with the UAE stamp and will, eventually, contribute to the emirate’s digital economy transformation.

H.E. Al Blooshi added that Abu Dhabi welcomes all innovators to practise their businesses with the flexibility to work remotely from authorised locations, according to the general provisions of the sole proprietorship.

The Freelancer Licence is designed to attract locally-resided and foreign talents and innovators as they have the right to contract and work with the companies in Abu Dhabi and the free zones without the need of issuing a free zone licence.