Many residents opting for freelancing to beat office stress, stagnant salaries

Freelancing is being increasingly seen as a promising avenue to advance one's career in the UAE, offering a competitive edge, especially for younger individuals entering the workforce in Dubai.

- Abdullah AI Tekreeti

The combination of high-stress work environments, rising competition and stagnant salaries has prompted many employees to shift from job searching to job creation.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, many residents, both young and veterans, reiterated that for most people in the UAE, weekdays often pass in a blur of routines until 5 or 6 pm, when they finally finish work.

For fresh graduates, freelancing has emerged as a valuable way to kickstart their careers and gain a competitive edge. Zaid Sami, a recent graduate and graphic designer based in Dubai's JBR, has been steadily freelancing alongside his 9-to-5 job.

Sami believed he had to get creative to stand out in a job market as competitive as Dubai's. Instead of only job hunting, he also built a graphic design portfolio, took social media marketing classes and suddenly found clients approaching him.

"Freelancing has both negatives and positives," he said. The biggest positive for a creative like himself is the freedom and time management it provides. Sami cites the ability to pick projects, timings, and clients as a breath of fresh air.