Words by Yoann Coulon, Managing Director of THA Staffing.
In the past decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has successfully propelled itself as a leading global business and leisure hub. International events such as Expo 2020 Dubai attracted over 24 million visitors to the UAE alone, further cementing the country’s position as a destination of choice for business and leisure travellers. As a result, the service industry has witnessed tremendous growth in the past 18 months, driving high demand for skilled employees.
Similarly, the country continues to build on its 2071 Centennial vision and is set to host worldwide events that will attract an influx of business and leisure travellers, as well as expatriates looking to move to the UAE. With the recent restructuring of the country’s immigration policies and the introduction of flexible visa regulations, the UAE is effectively drawing more and more international and regional business startups, and incentivising entrepreneurs and skilled individuals to choose the UAE as their stomping ground, thereby boosting the number of residents in the country. Yoann Coulon, Managing Director of THA Staffing, a leading staffing solutions agency, shares his thoughts on why the UAE makes for the perfect base for freelancers, specifically.
Encouraging visa schemes
Covering all segments of investors, entrepreneurs, graduates, specialists and skilled labour in all fields, the recently introduced advanced visa system creates a platform for individuals to pursue flexible working arrangements with competitive pay scales, effectively providing them with an autonomous working style. The Green visa offers freelancers flexible opportunities and eligibility to explore prospective avenues over five years, relaxing the pressure placed on individuals seeking jobs in Dubai’s vibrant market.
Freelancers are now able to sponsor themselves and their immediate families, and have a six-month grace period if and when their visa expires. With the request for freelancers on the rise, THA Staffing continues to provide both clients and talent with roles that benefit both parties. Since 2020, we witnessed an influx of 3,700 candidates applying for freelancer positions across our Corporate, Events and Hospitality verticals, with 68% of applicants applying specifically for the Event Experts vertical.
Leading world events
With global events coming up, such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar or the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the events industry continues to see high demand for talented individuals. In response, staffing agencies are committing tremendous efforts to provide a skilled workforce. In 2021 alone, THA Staffing matched over 2,600 freelancers with top companies across various events and luxury retail stores. Our Event Experts vertical has contributed to over 420 events in 2021 and today, the agency provides recruitment support for the global event taking place in Qatar in November 2022.
Seasonal flexibility
The seasonal nature of the Middle East economies, and in particular the hospitality and events sectors, have witnessed a growing number of organisations shift away from hiring full-time staff, which was successfully tried and tested during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, the world of freelance has become increasingly popular in recent years, providing a better work-life balance and increased flexibility. With a rising number of employers shifting away from full-time staff to leverage talented freelancers, it allows them to scale their business, control costs and maximise profits. With ongoing economic trends such as ‘quiet quitting’ and ‘the great resignation’, it is expected that 30% of employees in the region are set to leave their jobs in 2022, in search of better opportunities. This provides the ideal scenario for staffing agencies as the demand for freelancers is expected to rise even further.
With a greater sense of community and inclusivity, the country continues to pave the way for a thriving economy. Its innovative strategies enable synergy between private and public bodies, thereby creating a haven for both freelancers to flourish.
