Compliant contractor and freelancer management across the Emirates.
Freelance permits, free zone licences, and B2B services with clear rules on who can legally work in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and beyond.
Contractor management helps you pay and document genuine independent services while avoiding illegal work and employment misclassification. The UAE requires a legal basis (employment visa, freelance permit, or licensed company) for most onshore work.
Tech consultancies, agencies, and project teams hiring UAE-based autónomos or free zone freelancers; companies testing the market before opening an LLC.
MOHRE and free zone authorities care whether the person is truly independent or economically dependent on one client.
Jackson & Frank helps you document substance deliverables, substitution, equipment, and control before you scale contractor spend.
Collect licence numbers, permit scope, bank details, and VAT/TRN where registered before first payment.
We align your vendor setup with finance and compliance checkpoints.
Service agreements should spell governing law, place of work, deliverables, and liability especially when contractors access your UAE offices or systems.
We coordinate with legal counsel for high-value or regulated sectors.
Approve invoices, match purchase orders, and release funds with documentation your auditors expect.
Track withholding and VAT treatment where your policies require it.
The UAE is not a “invoice-only” jurisdiction: work authorisation still applies. Contractor programmes add structure and evidence.
When roles become permanent and integrated, switching to UAE EOR gives visas, insurance, WPS payroll, and EOS accrual in one compliant package.
From permit checks to payment runs.
KYC, trade licence or freelance permit checks, and service agreements for Dubai / UAE work.
Assess supervision, exclusivity, and tools access that imply employment vs genuine services.
MSAs and SOWs aligned with UAE practice; optional Arabic/English bilingual drafts via counsel.
Invoice approval and AED transfers with withholding documentation where applicable.
Watch for visa expiry, permit scope, and evolving MOHRE / free zone guidance.
Switch to employment visa, medical insurance, and WPS payroll through our UAE EOR.
Balance flexibility with enforcement reality.
Focus areas for HR and legal teams.
Performing work in the UAE generally requires a visa or permit that matches the activity not a tourist entry.
If someone works full-time on your systems with your tools and reports only to you, authorities may treat them as employees.
Paying “salary-like” amounts to personal accounts without employment can still attract scrutiny structure deliberately.
Need full-time employees in the UAE?
Learn more about UAE EORCommon questions about contractor and freelancer management in the UAE.
Generally, working in the UAE requires a legal basis: employment, a freelance permit in an approved free zone, or a licence that authorises the activity. 'Visitor' status does not replace work authorisation. We help you choose a compliant structure.