Do I need a UAE freelancer permit to work with US clients and receive payments in the UAE?

Dear Client,

After greeting and regarding your inquiry, we advise you as follows:

As per the regulations of the UAE, whether directly or through online platforms, you should obtain an official license from the competent authorities in accordance with corporate law and Anti-Money Laundering regulations

Accordingly, any natural person conducting a professional activity such as providing project management, consultancy, or technical services through international freelance platforms (such as UpWork or others) without obtaining an appropriate local license is deemed to be practicing an unlicensed activity in violation of the applicable laws of the UAE.

Such an activity does not grant the individual any legal protection before the judicial or banking authorities within the country.

Furthermore, receiving payments from abroad into a personal bank account in the UAE in exchange for professional services rendered without a valid license is strictly prohibited under the Central Bank’s regulations.

Such transactions may be considered as potential violations of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing laws and could result in the freezing of the account or the imposition of regulatory measures against the account holder.

Therefore, to ensure full compliance with the legal and regulatory framework of the UAE, it is strongly recommended to:

Obtain a valid Freelance Permit or establish a licensed professional company specializing in project management or consultancy services through the competent authorities.

Open a corporate bank account under the licensed entity’s name to receive payments legally and in compliance with Central Bank regulations.

Issue all invoices and contracts in the name of the licensed entity rather than the individual’s personal name, to ensure full transparency and legality of the transactions.

Adhering to these requirements ensures that you are legally protected, allowing you to carry out your professional activities freely within a lawful framework, and safeguards your right to claim and enforce your entitlements before the competent authorities without exposure to legal or financial risks.

Dear Sir, Welcome.

Regarding your first question about the conditions for obtaining a work permit, you must have a license or an existing company within the UAE to be able to obtain a permit. However, UAE law stipulates what is called a "part-time employment contract," meaning you can work for more than one company at a time. This is generally the case.

In your case, as long as you are only providing consulting services to clients outside the country and you have a permit, as I understand it, there is nothing wrong with that.

Regarding transfers to your bank account, you must explain to the relevant authorities (the Central Bank) the reason for the transfers to avoid being held accountable for what is known as money laundering. Receiving funds exceeding AED 50,000 may lead to questioning about the source and reason for the transfer.

If you need more information, contact us via WhatsApp on [-------------].

Be advised:

Since your freelance clients are only in the USA and not in the UAE or GCC, you do not need a UAE freelance permit.

You can legally receive payments to your UAE bank account as long as they are from legitimate foreign sources and properly documented. Your Golden Visa and NOC from your employer make you fully compliant.

For more details, please share your WhatsApp number so we can assist you directly.

You must obtain a license to work independently.

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for your inquiry!

Please note that even if your freelance clients are based in the USA, since you are physically residing in the UAE, your freelance activity is considered to be conducted within the UAE jurisdiction.

Therefore, it is recommended to obtain a freelance permit or professional license under a recognized free zone (such as DMCC, Dubai Media City, or Dubai Internet City). This ensures that your freelance work remains compliant with UAE regulations.

Regarding payment, you may legally receive international transfers or online payments into your UAE bank account; however, the activity must be linked to a valid freelance or professional license. Operating without one could raise bank compliance or regulatory concerns.

Your NOC from your current employer is beneficial and will support your application for a freelance or professional license, confirming there is no conflict with your employment.

In summary, while you can continue working with your U.S. clients, it is advisable to formalize your freelance status by obtaining the relevant permit to remain fully compliant under UAE law.

Kind regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

Dear Inquirer,

Even if your freelance clients are based outside the UAE, providing consultancy services while residing in the UAE may still require a freelancer permit or trade license, depending on the nature of your work and your visa category. The Golden Visa itself does not automatically authorize commercial or freelance activities without proper licensing.

As for receiving payments directly to your UAE bank account, this is possible and legal if your freelance activity is duly licensed. Otherwise, such transactions could be considered unlicensed commercial activity under UAE law.

Since each case depends on specific factors—such as your visa type, NOC, and the business jurisdiction (DMCC, mainland, or free zone)—we recommend booking a legal consultation with Future Vision for Advocacy and Legal Consultancy to assess your situation and obtain proper licensing or representation if needed.

We are happy at Future Vision Law Advocates and Legal Consultancy to assist you and provide the best legal services that meet your needs.

To contact us, you can call or WhatsApp us at [--------------].

Yes, but only if:

You obtain a freelance license from an official authority (such as DMCC, DDA, TECOM, twofour54, RAKEZ, etc.).

You must provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) when applying.

As a Golden Visa holder, you enjoy greater freedom than regular residents and can apply for a freelance license without the need to be linked to a sponsor.

Hello, as per your query, if there is a NOC from your current employer, then you can set up a free zone, or virtual company for consultation and then wire the funds. Please contact us by email - amr.chowdhruy@alkayaan.ae or call - 0564300545/ 0543730440

Yes, we can clarify and set you up correctly as a Golden Visa holder doing US-only consulting from Dubai.

We handled an almost identical arrangement for a senior PM with a DMCC job and NOC, and the structure we prepared passed banking, tax, and immigration checks without issues.

On permits, working from the UAE while providing services abroad is still considered an activity performed from within the country.

The clean approach is to obtain a light freelancer or sole-owner permit that matches “project management consultancy” in a suitable free zone, and keep your employer’s NOC on file.

This avoids any allegation of unlicensed activity, even if all clients are in the USA and all work is done outside office hours.

On receiving payments, routing US client fees directly to your UAE bank or through online gateways is feasible once the activity is licensed.

Banks usually ask for the license, invoices, and simple KYC.

Without a permit, transfers can trigger compliance queries that delay or block receipts.

On compliance hygiene, we align your contracts and invoices to reflect export of services, set up a simple bookkeeping and periodic reporting routine, and confirm whether any registration thresholds apply to you now or later.

This keeps you transparent with banks and avoids friction with renewals.

To tailor this to you, we will map your expected revenue, preferred free zone, and payment rails, then deliver a bilingual compliance pack that includes your permit setup, NOC acknowledgments, client contract and invoice templates, and a short bank letter explaining the model.

Our multilingual team will coordinate with your employer’s HR so your main job remains unaffected.

Our consultants speak Arabic, English, Russian, Hindi, and Chinese.