Freelance web designer in Dubai

How to Become a Freelance web designer in Dubai?
There are a lot of hurdles you’ll need to pass through before you can start
working as a freelance web designer or developer in Dubai. Learn from my
experience with this handy 8 Steps Ultimate Guide.
Introduction
I was once in the same thought like you. I had big dreams of being a leading
web designer in Dubai. But I had no clue as to where to begin. It’s not going to
be very easy, but the payoff is totally worth it. Ready to begin? Then let’s go!
1. Naming your business
Coming up with a great business name can be tricky so that once you acquired
enough clients and portfolio you can pitch on it to form a web design company
in future. Keep in mind that your website will also use the same name, so make
it something that’s easy to search for. Don’t make it too complex or too generic.
Make it easy to remember.
2. Registering your business name in Dubai
Right, you’ve chosen an excellent name for your business so give yourself a pat
on the back. Now the business registration begins – but don’t worry, this step is
actually pretty easy.
To work as a freelancer in Dubai you’ll need a residency visa and work permit –
which you can get from a free zone, including Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio
City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Knowledge Park and Dubai Design District. In
2018, a new scheme was set up by GoFreelance from Dubai’s Tecom Group,
launched in partnership with Dubai Creative Cluster Authority. With this site
UAE residents can now apply online for a permit for Dhs7,500, which the team
says is 70 percent lower than in the past (Always, check for the updated fee). It

also allows you to sponsor your family members. The aim is to attract more
talent to the region – by making it more affordable and simpler to set up.
Freelancers can register online at www.gofreelance.ae and there’s a three-step
process – submit your online application, go in person to sign the documents
and pay the fee, and then you’ll be emailed your permit. So far, so simple.
Do I need to register for VAT while I’m working as a freelancer in Dubai?
If you are making between AED 187,500 per year and AED 375,000 per year
then you may register for VAT if you choose. If you make more than AED
375,000 per year, you must register for VAT. For more information, please
visit https://government.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-andinvestment/taxation/valueaddedtaxvat
If you don’t register, it’s always a good idea to keep good accounts just in case
the policy changes in the future.
3. Registering your domain name, hosting and e-mail
Now you’ve got your work permit, it’s time to register a domain. If you’ve
chosen a unique business name, hopefully nobody will have claimed your
domain already. You can always register your domain with one company and
get email and web hosting with another.
4. Accounting and invoicing
Accounting, whether you like it or not, is a necessary part of freelance web
designing works in Dubai. It doesn’t have to be a major headache but it’s
important to get set up now rather than later. You need to track your expenses,
invoices and income. There are a few rules and regulations around invoicing for
your work as per freelance permit. Any invoicing should be in your own name as
per the license and work permit.

5. Designing your business card
A lot of people make the mistake of trying to cram as much information as they
can onto their business card, and it ends up a jumbled mess. At most, you
should include:
• Your name
• Phone and email address
• Web address
• Social media
• Basic services list (back of card)
It’s a good idea to make your business card unique in some way – whether it’s a
fancy card stock, embossed lettering, metallic foiling, a cool die-cut or
something else entirely will depend on your branding. Make sure it stands out
so when it inevitably joins a pile of other cards somewhere, it will get noticed.
6. Setting up your website with SEO
Designing and setting up your website is a big job. If you’re designing it
yourself you’ll need to create content to fill all those pages and make sure it can
be found in search engines like Google through Search Engine
Optimisation (SEO). If you don’t, your website will be much more difficult to find
in search engines. Make sure these keywords also appear in the body text of
their relevant pages. I made my website in the top of the Google SERP by doing
SEO for keywords like ‘freelance web designer in Dubai’ and managed to get a
couple of website design enquiries every week
7. Social media
Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Behance and more can be
leveraged to increase awareness of your business and drive traffic to your
website.

8. Finding clients
This is, without a doubt, the hardest part of being a freelance web designer, and
will take up 90% of your time once you are established. You don’t have the
benefit of an existing client base and nobody has heard of you, so you have to
build that awareness, trust and client base from scratch. Let me tell you, it isn’t
easy.
Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of my ultimate guide to becoming a freelance
web designer in Dubai.
You should have everything you need to work from home as a freelancer, and
hopefully you’re pulling in clients on a weekly basis!
Don’t forget, this is your job now. Start in the morning, finish in the afternoon.
Set your hours. Save some time for yourself, if you can.
Most of all – enjoy yourself. You are living the dream.
About the author:
Sajeev from Dubai Website Company
He is an an experienced freelance web designer and WordPress developer in
Dubai, working full-time in UAE.
Website: https://www.dubaiwebsitecompany.com/
*This article can be published and shared anywhere with giving courtesy to the author and back
link to his website