THE RISE OF THE FREELANCE ECONOMY: A POLICY-FOCUSED APPROACH TO EMPOWERING MEDIA FREELANCERS IN THE UAE

Abstract

High-quality freelance media professionals are currently in high demand and stand for years to come. The difficulties faced by media professionals in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to new job openings where innovation can freely express itself in the marketplace.

Media professionals have never had a better chance to operate autonomously as independent contractors, freely supplying the market with their creative talents. Even if there were freelancing jobs before the COVID-19 outbreak, the confining scenario has created many new self-employment opportunities. With more independent workers emerging every year, freelancing has become a global trend.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), with its unique approach, is no exception to this global trend. The government is consistently paving new paths for independents, and networks of these entities are expanding both nationally and internationally, making the UAE a fascinating case study in the world of freelancing.

This study employs a qualitative research approach, focusing on policy analysis. This paper's primary data sources are government policies, laws, regulations, and reports that address various aspects of freelancing within the media sector in the UAE. These sources are gathered from governmental sites, legal databases, and associated publications.

By exploring the UAE's government policy, laws, and regulations on the freelance workforce, the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing, and the future of freelance media workers in the UAE, this research determines the present and future states of freelance media workers in the UAE.