Freelance web designer in Dubai
The founder of Dubai Website Company explains the step by step guide to become a freelance web designer in Dubai. DubaiWebsiteCompany.com is the best freelance web designer in Dubai. Visit: https://www.dubaiwebsitecompany.com/
The founder of Dubai Website Company explains the step by step guide to become a freelance web designer in Dubai. DubaiWebsiteCompany.com is the best freelance web designer in Dubai. Visit: https://www.dubaiwebsitecompany.com/
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How to Become a <strong>Freelance</strong> <strong>web</strong> <strong>designer</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong>?<br />
There are a lot of hurdles you’ll need to pass through before you can start<br />
work<strong>in</strong>g as a freelance <strong>web</strong> <strong>designer</strong> or developer <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong>. Learn from my<br />
experience with this handy 8 Steps Ultimate Guide.<br />
Introduction<br />
I was once <strong>in</strong> the same thought like you. I had big dreams of be<strong>in</strong>g a lead<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>web</strong> <strong>designer</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong>. But I had no clue as to where to beg<strong>in</strong>. It’s not go<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
be very easy, but the payoff is totally worth it. Ready to beg<strong>in</strong>? Then let’s go!<br />
1. Nam<strong>in</strong>g your bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
Com<strong>in</strong>g up with a great bus<strong>in</strong>ess name can be tricky so that once you acquired<br />
enough clients and portfolio you can pitch on it to form a <strong>web</strong> design company<br />
<strong>in</strong> future. Keep <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d that your <strong>web</strong>site will also use the same name, so make<br />
it someth<strong>in</strong>g that’s easy to search for. Don’t make it too complex or too generic.<br />
Make it easy to remember.<br />
2. Register<strong>in</strong>g your bus<strong>in</strong>ess name <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong><br />
Right, you’ve chosen an excellent name for your bus<strong>in</strong>ess so give yourself a pat<br />
on the back. Now the bus<strong>in</strong>ess registration beg<strong>in</strong>s – but don’t worry, this step is<br />
actually pretty easy.<br />
To work as a freelancer <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong> you’ll need a residency visa and work permit –<br />
which you can get from a free zone, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Dubai</strong> Media City, <strong>Dubai</strong> Studio<br />
City, <strong>Dubai</strong> Production City, <strong>Dubai</strong> Knowledge Park and <strong>Dubai</strong> Design District. In<br />
2018, a new scheme was set up by Go<strong>Freelance</strong> from <strong>Dubai</strong>’s Tecom Group,<br />
launched <strong>in</strong> partnership with <strong>Dubai</strong> Creative Cluster Authority. With this site<br />
UAE residents can now apply onl<strong>in</strong>e for a permit for Dhs7,500, which the team<br />
says is 70 percent lower than <strong>in</strong> the past (Always, check for the updated fee). It
also allows you to sponsor your family members. The aim is to attract more<br />
talent to the region – by mak<strong>in</strong>g it more affordable and simpler to set up.<br />
<strong>Freelance</strong>rs can register onl<strong>in</strong>e at www.gofreelance.ae and there’s a three-step<br />
process – submit your onl<strong>in</strong>e application, go <strong>in</strong> person to sign the documents<br />
and pay the fee, and then you’ll be emailed your permit. So far, so simple.<br />
Do I need to register for VAT while I’m work<strong>in</strong>g as a freelancer <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong>?<br />
If you are mak<strong>in</strong>g between AED 187,500 per year and AED 375,000 per year<br />
then you may register for VAT if you choose. If you make more than AED<br />
375,000 per year, you must register for VAT. For more <strong>in</strong>formation, please<br />
visit https://government.ae/en/<strong>in</strong>formation-and-services/f<strong>in</strong>ance-and<strong>in</strong>vestment/taxation/valueaddedtaxvat<br />
If you don’t register, it’s always a good idea to keep good accounts just <strong>in</strong> case<br />
the policy changes <strong>in</strong> the future.<br />
3. Register<strong>in</strong>g your doma<strong>in</strong> name, host<strong>in</strong>g and e-mail<br />
Now you’ve got your work permit, it’s time to register a doma<strong>in</strong>. If you’ve<br />
chosen a unique bus<strong>in</strong>ess name, hopefully nobody will have claimed your<br />
doma<strong>in</strong> already. You can always register your doma<strong>in</strong> with one company and<br />
get email and <strong>web</strong> host<strong>in</strong>g with another.<br />
4. Account<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>voic<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Account<strong>in</strong>g, whether you like it or not, is a necessary part of freelance <strong>web</strong><br />
design<strong>in</strong>g works <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong>. It doesn’t have to be a major headache but it’s<br />
important to get set up now rather than later. You need to track your expenses,<br />
<strong>in</strong>voices and <strong>in</strong>come. There are a few rules and regulations around <strong>in</strong>voic<strong>in</strong>g for<br />
your work as per freelance permit. Any <strong>in</strong>voic<strong>in</strong>g should be <strong>in</strong> your own name as<br />
per the license and work permit.
5. Design<strong>in</strong>g your bus<strong>in</strong>ess card<br />
A lot of people make the mistake of try<strong>in</strong>g to cram as much <strong>in</strong>formation as they<br />
can onto their bus<strong>in</strong>ess card, and it ends up a jumbled mess. At most, you<br />
should <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />
• Your name<br />
• Phone and email address<br />
• Web address<br />
• Social media<br />
• Basic services list (back of card)<br />
It’s a good idea to make your bus<strong>in</strong>ess card unique <strong>in</strong> some way – whether it’s a<br />
fancy card stock, embossed letter<strong>in</strong>g, metallic foil<strong>in</strong>g, a cool die-cut or<br />
someth<strong>in</strong>g else entirely will depend on your brand<strong>in</strong>g. Make sure it stands out<br />
so when it <strong>in</strong>evitably jo<strong>in</strong>s a pile of other cards somewhere, it will get noticed.<br />
6. Sett<strong>in</strong>g up your <strong>web</strong>site with SEO<br />
Design<strong>in</strong>g and sett<strong>in</strong>g up your <strong>web</strong>site is a big job. If you’re design<strong>in</strong>g it<br />
yourself you’ll need to create content to fill all those pages and make sure it can<br />
be found <strong>in</strong> search eng<strong>in</strong>es like Google through Search Eng<strong>in</strong>e<br />
Optimisation (SEO). If you don’t, your <strong>web</strong>site will be much more difficult to f<strong>in</strong>d<br />
<strong>in</strong> search eng<strong>in</strong>es. Make sure these keywords also appear <strong>in</strong> the body text of<br />
their relevant pages. I made my <strong>web</strong>site <strong>in</strong> the top of the Google SERP by do<strong>in</strong>g<br />
SEO for keywords like ‘freelance <strong>web</strong> <strong>designer</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong>’ and managed to get a<br />
couple of <strong>web</strong>site design enquiries every week<br />
7. Social media<br />
Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Behance and more can be<br />
leveraged to <strong>in</strong>crease awareness of your bus<strong>in</strong>ess and drive traffic to your<br />
<strong>web</strong>site.
8. F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g clients<br />
This is, without a doubt, the hardest part of be<strong>in</strong>g a freelance <strong>web</strong> <strong>designer</strong>, and<br />
will take up 90% of your time once you are established. You don’t have the<br />
benefit of an exist<strong>in</strong>g client base and nobody has heard of you, so you have to<br />
build that awareness, trust and client base from scratch. Let me tell you, it isn’t<br />
easy.<br />
Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of my ultimate guide to becom<strong>in</strong>g a freelance<br />
<strong>web</strong> <strong>designer</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Dubai</strong>.<br />
You should have everyth<strong>in</strong>g you need to work from home as a freelancer, and<br />
hopefully you’re pull<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> clients on a weekly basis!<br />
Don’t forget, this is your job now. Start <strong>in</strong> the morn<strong>in</strong>g, f<strong>in</strong>ish <strong>in</strong> the afternoon.<br />
Set your hours. Save some time for yourself, if you can.<br />
Most of all – enjoy yourself. You are liv<strong>in</strong>g the dream.<br />
About the author:<br />
Sajeev from <strong>Dubai</strong> Website Company<br />
He is an an experienced freelance <strong>web</strong> <strong>designer</strong> and WordPress developer <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Dubai</strong>, work<strong>in</strong>g full-time <strong>in</strong> UAE.<br />
Website: https://www.dubai<strong>web</strong>sitecompany.com/<br />
*This article can be published and shared anywhere with giv<strong>in</strong>g courtesy to the author and back<br />
l<strong>in</strong>k to his <strong>web</strong>site