Although managing your funds as a freelancer in Dubai can be difficult, it is necessary for success in the fiercely cutthroat freelancing market. You are in charge of handling your earnings, outgoings, taxes, and retirement funds if you work as a freelancer.
In this article, we will be talking about how to live on a budget while being a freelancer in Dubai. If you happen to be a freelancer or independent person, budgeting requires a different strategy. However, if you have set up the ground rules, it should be very simple.
Housing Costs: Finding Your Nest in the City of Gold
The world’s most energetic metropolis, Dubai, offers glitzy towers and unending sunshine. The main reasons people visit to this country are the artificial islands and the astounding job prospects. For singles, couples, or families that desire to live an affordable yet opulent lifestyle, it is an extremely desirable location. Over 80% of the foreign community is moving to Dubai for this reason.
When thinking about the cost of living in Dubai for freelancers, people mainly think about housing. As it is one of the most crucial yet fundamental necessities. Consequently, it is an essential expense that needs to be prioritized. Here, you may choose from a wide range of home options with varying building types, sizes, and areas as well as extra services. However, you must have in mind that rent and ownership costs differ.
It can be expensive to rent a home in Dubai, but it is crucial to shop around beforehand. There are many different rental options, so it is essential to choose the best one for your requirements. Utility prices, monthly rent, and additional expenses can all be taken into account when creating a budget because they can add up rapidly.
If living in a modern building close to additional entertainment options is vital to you, New Dubai might be worth the price. If you intend to relocate to Dubai, renting an apartment on a monthly basis from a renting agency, in person, or through Airbnb will be your best bet. Apartments in Dubai typically cost AED 2,570 to AED 14,500 a month on Airbnb. But, you may find them for less if you search locally. Nevertheless, going directly through Airbnb saves you the hassle of having to pay a deposit up front.
Transportation: Getting Around the City
Budgeting for freelancer in Dubai is important. Therefore, if you do not have a vehicle or want to lower your costs, public transportation can be better. Dubai’s public transportation system includes:
- Cars.
- Scooters.
- Bicycles.
- Buses.
- Water buses.
- A monorail system.
- A tram.
- The Dubai metro.
The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) oversees the entire mass transit network in Dubai.
The most popular means of transportation is the Dubai metro. This rail system has two routes (green and red lines) serving the whole emirate of Dubai. Monthly passes are often less than 300 AED, which is less than in many other major cities. The two-line, autonomous metro system in Dubai makes getting around the city easy and affordable.
The green line links the Old Dubai communities near the airport, while the red line follows the shoreline parallel. Visitors and locals can buy a Nol smartcard that can be loaded with money to use on the metro, trams, taxis, and both water and land buses. There are monthly passes available. The total number of the 7 zones you travel through on your trip will affect your fare.
Try Dubai’s Careem bike share if you want to get some exercise while you’re moving around. The vibrant green bikes function similarly to other international city bike share schemes. Unlimited daily rides of 45 minutes are possible with a AED 400 annual membership package. Endless rides of 45 minutes are available all day long with a daily membership, which costs AED 22.
On the other hand, bus tickets can be purchased for just 5 AED. A modest car can be leased for roughly 2,500 AED per month. Also, insurance is included at these prices. The cost of gasoline is roughly 2 AED per liter. Consequently, as a freelancer in Dubai you have different options.
Healthcare: Prioritizing Your Well-being
Healthcare in Dubai for freelancers is very important, since the companies you will be working will not give you benefits. Another significant cost for freelancer in Dubai is healthcare. All residents of Dubai have the obligation to have health insurance and have access to universal healthcare.
You must purchase health insurance on your own from one of the many health insurance firms if family health insurance does not cover you. The same happens if you have a freelance UAE visa. Depending on the policy, medical insurance costs can change. Essential Advantages Plans are available for 600 AED for a yearly plan.
Obtaining your healthcare gets easier if you work with a freelance visa provider in the UAE. These firms can help you acquire the type of policy that you need to work a live legally in the region. Consequently, you will not have to go through the process of obtaining your medical coverage by yourself. As this can be daunting for newcomers. At Freelancer Gate you can obtain the support you need to choose the right company for your freelancing visa.
Education: Nurturing the Next Generation
Plan for the cost of your children’s education if your family is relocating here. You can select from both public and private schools in Dubai.
Because of its fascinating culture, world-class universities, many employment possibilities, and diverse and growing international community, studying in the UAE can be an exhilarating experience. One of the key considerations in deciding whether or not to pursue higher education in the UAE is the cost of doing so. International students’ tuition varies from college to university and from course to course.
When parents move to a new nation, schooling is the most crucial factor and a top concern. Because of the UAE school curricula, you may easily get low tuition in this country. Additionally, the fact that ex-pats are moving back to Dubai indicates that there are top-notch educational facilities here. You can select the schooling that best suits your family.
- Public schools go up to AED 6,000.
- Private schools – from AED 3,500 to AED 108,000.
- Zayed University – AED 2,500 (every credit hour).
- British University of Dubai – tuition goes from AED 56,000 to 62,000.
- Preschool – from AED 1,000 to AED 4,000.
- International Primary School – from 25,000 to AED 75,000.
Groceries and Dining: Satisfying Your Palate
Dubai is famous for its incredible selection of fine dining establishments and diverse cuisine. If you intend to take advantage, figure on paying, on average, AED 270 to AED 330 for a three-course supper for a couple at a midrange restaurant.
In Dubai, excellent food is not always pricey. For instance, many areas provide affordable, real food from all over the world, especially street food. In stalls all across the city, you can get anything from Indian chaat to Lebanese manakish to shawarma. These stalls have prices lower than the AED 36 to AED 44 you would pay for in a budget restaurant.
It becomes crucial to take grocery costs into account because you cannot accomplish it without them. To take advantage of the finest discounts and offers, one can choose from a wide variety of supermarkets, including Waitrose, Spinneys, Carrefour, Etihad Mall, and others. The necessary items are:
- Chicken breast – AED 15.
- Milk – AED 7.
- Eggs – AED 13.
- Tomatoes – AED 6.
- Cheese – AED 20.
- Apples – AED 8.
- Potatoes – AED 5.
- Wine – AED 54.
- Bread – AED 4.
Entertainment and Recreation: Balancing Work and Play
You can spend as little or as much on entertainment in Dubai as you like if you are a freelancer in Dubai.
There are countless possibilities for individuals ready to spend a lot of money on a day out. The cost of taking one of the Burj Khalifa’s 57 elevators to the very top is from AED 183 to AED 220 per person. However, you must spend about AED 734 to access the top lounge. Likewise, choose among Dubai’s numerous theme parks and waterparks if you are looking for a different kind of fun.
There is always inside ski and a penguin interaction at the Mall of Dubai for AED 367 to AED 400 a day if the desert heat gets to you. The Museum of the Future, with its beautiful silver ring architecture, offers another indoor respite for AED 147 – AED 183. certainly, malls are always a viable alternative for virtually endless upscale shopping options.
Discovering Dubai’s past at the Al Shindagha Museum & Perfume House near Dubai Creek could be accomplished on a budget. A ticket costs approximately AED 50. Alternately, spend AED 20 to learn at the Women’s Museum. Take the subway to Jumeirah to spend an afternoon at Kite Beach for a good time in the sun if you’re searching for an even better deal. After that, go downtown to enjoy free performances around the Dubai Fountain.
Dubai’s nightlife is renowned for its glitz, glamour, and exorbitant costs. Most hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs that cater to travelers serve alcohol. Costs for foreign beers like Corona range from AED 40 to AED 50. Although cocktails cost almost twice as much, weekday happy hours frequently feature substantial reductions. Dubai announced that it would suspend its 30% fee on alcohol producers through 2023, which should result in lower costs.
Miscellaneous Expenses: The Devil is in the Details
The cost of utilities, which include your water and electricity connection (supplied by DEWA), television and internet packages, and cell plans, are comprised in the cost of living in Dubai.
Because A/C usage is usually higher in the summer, a typical monthly DEWA bill will probably be different in the summer than the winter. Additionally, you should anticipate higher costs if you hire a villa with an individual pool and yard.
Residents of Dubai can select from a variety of TV and internet plans available from Etisalat and du. Residents can subscribe to a basic subscription for AED 389 per month (excluding VAT) that includes free calls to UAE landlines, 200+ TV channels, and an internet speed of 250 Mbps.
Prices for postpaid cellphone services in Dubai start at AED 125 per month but can increase to AED 1,000 a month for more calling minutes and greater data packages. Of course, using prepaid mobile plans, which provide you more financial flexibility, is always an option.
On the other hand, we have house help. One benefit of residing in Dubai is having access to cheaply cost house help, a benefit that many locals utilize. Housekeepers’ visas need yearly renewal and they require sponsorship by the foreigners who hire them. You should be up-to-date that this will raise Dubai’s cost of living.
All sponsorships for domestic help in Dubai must go through Tadbeer service centers. You must pay an initial fee of AED 12,900 and an annual renewal fee of AED 7,500 for private sponsorship through Tadbeer. On the other side, Tadbeer sponsorship will set you back AED 10,000 for a 2-year agreement with no further fees. The household help’s monthly salary, which might range from AED 1,500 to AED 5,000 contingent upon their responsibilities. Consequently, this also rises the living wage of a freelancer in Dubai, if they wish to hire domestic help.
Due to the numerous living choices available here, Dubai is one of the locations in the globe that is prioritized for immigration. It offers the most opulent and cheapest way of life for a freelancer in Dubai. Therefore, as you can see, budgeting for freelancers in Dubai is essential when working and living in the area.
For freelancers who wish to attain long-term success and financial stability, setting monetary objectives is crucial. Consider creating objectives for your income, spending, savings, and reduction of debt, and create a strategy to help you reach these objectives over time.
