DAFZ launches Talent Pass for freelancers
Under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) has launched the ‘Talent Pass’ licence for freelance work. The new licence that will be available for people with special skills and expertise from around the world in the fields of media, education, technology, art, marketing and consultancy.
DAFZ, part of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), signed an MoU with Dubai Culture and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) at a ceremony held at DAFZ to facilitate the new initiative. The MoU creates the framework for cooperation and coordination to process licenses, visas and other services that support innovators in establishing, operating and growing their business in the emirate.
The strategy seeks to double the contribution of the creative sector to Dubai’s GDP and increase the emirate’s ability to attract creative individuals, investors, and entrepreneurs, as well as local, regional, and international investments, all of which will help bolster Dubai’s position as a global capital for the creative economy and a hub for talent.
Dubai Culture will be committed to supporting the ‘Cultural Visa’ for holders of the applicable licence and working to encourage talent to join the free zone and tap regional and global markets through awareness and communication programmes.
The GDRFA will also promote DAFZ as a preferred destination for global businesses and the emirate of Dubai as a business-friendly environment that provides talented individuals opportunities to expand their reach to a large consumer market.
The ‘Talent Pass’ qualifies its holder to obtain a residence visa for three years, in addition to renting office space through a wide range of modern office solutions provided by DAFZ. The office solutions feature efficient support and flexible operation costs, in addition to the option of obtaining services remotely.
License holders will have access to the vast network of DAFZ customers, ranging from international companies to SMEs and entrepreneurs. They will also have access to the free zone’s digital platform that allows them to contact customers for easier access to work, contracts, and services, thereby providing them the opportunity to expand their customer prospects. DAFZ is home to more than 1,800 companies in more than 20 vital economic sectors, with multinationals making up more than 30 percent of those companies, 31 of them being Fortune 500 companies.
‘Talent Pass’ is part of a portfolio of six licences offered by DAFZ, which includes the Commerce Licence for commercial activities such as import, export and re-export and the General Commerce Licence.
