Dubai is set to launch a residency programme which will encourage remote-working.
The new programme will grant permission to working professionals to live in Dubai and work remotely, whilst still being employed by their respective companies abroad.
The development of this initiative, according to the director-general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Helal Almarri, has been largely due to the knock-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as it has forced many businesses to change the way they operate.
“The global pandemic has changed how we live and work,” Almarri said in a statement. “As multinationals and leading start-ups across the world accelerate their rates of digital adoption, the need to be physically present to fulfil professional responsibilities has been redefined.”
She also added, “Dubai is uniquely positioned to offer a safe, dynamic lifestyle opportunity to these digitally savvy workers and their families while they continue to work remotely, whether it is for a couple of months or an entire year.”
Under the new scheme, those using the remote-working model encouraged will be eligible for services that Dubai residents currently have – phone, internet, schooling and even the tax-free salaries which UAE residents receive.
