Abu Dhabi's Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has expanded the emirate's freelancer license to cover 100 business activities — adding 30 new fields including artificial intelligence development and 3D model designing.
30 New Activities Added to Abu Dhabi Freelancer Licence
The Abu Dhabi Business Centre (ADBC) announced the expansion on August 15, 2024. The 30 newly licensable activities span several high-demand sectors:
- Artificial intelligence development - Production models by 3D imaging - Electronic equipment, devices, systems and software designing - Oil and natural gas fields production software design - Data classification and analysis services - Development and innovation in computer systems and programmes - Online players support service providers
The additions bring the programme's total to 100 freelance activities, up from 48 when the scheme launched in 2020.
What Officials Said
H.E. Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Business Centre, said the initiative "corresponds to the state's vision of the development of a sustainable and diverse economy." He added that ADDED remains committed to providing all necessary services for commercial and economic activities, supporting entrepreneurs and professionals who contribute to economic expansion.
Who Can Apply
To qualify for an Abu Dhabi freelancer licence, applicants must demonstrate at least 12 months of relevant experience in their chosen field, or hold a recognised professional or academic qualification in that area.
Once issued, the licence allows individuals to work independently without employer reporting requirements and to contract with multiple companies across Abu Dhabi and its free zones — without needing a separate licence for each client.
Growing Demand for Flexible Work in the UAE
The scheme has seen consistent uptake since its launch. Over 1,013 freelancer licences were issued in Abu Dhabi in the past year alone, reflecting rising demand for flexible and self-directed work arrangements among UAE nationals and residents.
This expansion also aligns with Abu Dhabi's broader push to build AI capabilities as a pillar of economic diversification. In January 2021, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan launched the AI and Advanced Technology Council to advance AI theory, infrastructure, and investment in the emirate.
Adding AI development as a formally licensable freelance activity signals how central the technology has become to the emirate's economic planning.
