How to obtain yourFreelance Permit inExpo City Dubai

Version 03, August 2024

Expo City Dubai

How to get started

Expo City Dubai is a sustainable, innovationdriven, people-centric city of the future. It
is an integral part of the Dubai 2040 Urban
Master Plan, which emphasises the need forsustainable growth and greener, healthiercommunities.

Individual professionals seeking to operate
independently in their own capacity at
Expo City Dubai (hereinafter known as ECD)
can apply for the ECD Freelance Permit. The
Expo City Dubai Authority (hereinafter knownas ECDA) offers a simplified and efficientpermit issuance process and eligibility for a
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Residence Visa.

Expo City Dubai is an integrated community
to work, live and play. A city built on
sustainability and designed for wellbeing,
where all daily needs are within a 15-minute
walk or bike ride.
As a blueprint for eco-conscious urban
planning, Expo City Dubai expects entities
operating within the city to align with its
goals in creating a balanced community thatthrives in harmony with the environment.

To obtain an ECD Freelance Permit, the clientmust submit the mandated documents andcomplete the steps below.
Once registered, individuals will be
provided with fully integrated access to all
Government and ECDA services both virtually
through the Expo City Dubai Authority Portal(hereinafter known as ECDA Portal) andphysically through the Client Relations Centre
located within ECD on level 2 of the Women’s
Pavilion in the Sustainability District.

The freelance permit process

STEP 1**ECDA reviews application andissues ECD Freelance Permit

STEP 3*Individual submits completed ECDAFreelance Permit application formand supporting documents andcompletes payment

STEP 2Company Card is issued if
requested by individual**Up to 5
working days

*An extensive list of available activities/professions can be found as part of the ECDA Freelance Permit application form.
**Upon successful submission of all documents and completion of Freelance Permit payment.
Figure 1   Expo City Dubai freelance permit process2

How to obtain your Freelance Permit in Expo City Dubai

Step 1 – New application submission for Freelance Permit
Once the individual gets in touch with ECDA and receives their ECDA Portal credentials, thefirst step of the process requires the individual to login to the ECDA Portal to submit the ECDA
Freelance Permit application form, supporting documentation (listed below) and complete a
AED 7,000 payment, which includes a non-refundable AED 500 application fee to ECDA.

Documents requiredfor ECD FreelancePermit

Nonsponsoredindividuals

Sponsored individuals

If the applicant
is sponsored bya spouse/parent

Self sponsoredindividuals (GoldenVisa/UAE National/
GCC National)

If the applicant
is sponsored bya business entity(company)

ECDA Freelance Permit
application form
Qualification certificates
and/or work portfolio
and/or other evidence tosupport the profession
being applied for
Copy of applicant’s
passport (in colour, validfor at least 6 months)
Copy of applicant’s UAE
visa (if available)
Copy of applicant's
Emirates ID (both sides,in colour - if available)• Mandatory to beprovided by UAE
citizens• Mandatory for GCC
citizens along with
their GCC ID card
Clear, passport sizestudio photograph ofapplicant, in colour withwhite background
A No Objection
Certificate (NOC) signedby the sponsor
Copy of the sponsor’s
passport
Copy of the sponsor'scompany licence
Table 1   Documents required for the ECD Freelance Permit

How to obtain your Freelance Permit in Expo City Dubai

3

Step 2 – ECDA review and approval
ECDA will review all documents received toensure requirements are met and necessary
approvals obtained. Applicants will be notified
of any additional documentation, such as awork portfolio, that must be submitted tofurther support the profession that has beenrequested for the Freelance Permit.
Once approval is obtained, the ECD FreelancePermit and ECD Identification Card will beissued to the individual.
Additionally, an invoice will be issued for
payment of the Company Card and the UAE
Residence Visa (if applicable).
Step 3 – Company Card (if applicable)
A single ECD Company Card will be issued tothe individual and will include a serial number,name of the individual, an expiry date anda quota of one visa for the freelancer. TheCompany Card is an optional requirement
for the freelancer where it is only required
should the freelancer wish to obtain a UAE
Residence Visa. For individuals that are UAE
citizens or self-sponsored, a residence visa is
not applicable.

4How to obtain your Freelance Permit in Expo City Dubai

For any further queries or clarifications pleasecontact the Expo City Dubai Authority ClientRelations Centre at CRC@expocitydubai.ae
ECD Freelance Permit requirements are
subject to change and the client may berequired to provide additional documentation
to complete the permit process. Please referto the latest requirements as set out in the‘How to obtain your Freelance Permit in Expo
City Dubai’ guidelines.