The Federal Authority for Human Resources (FAHR) on 7 April rolled out phase three of its Freelance Leave Initiative, a programme that lets Emirati federal employees take up to one year of unpaid leave to establish start-ups or work as independent contractors while retaining job security. The latest stage enables 2,000 additional employees to apply, bringing the total pool to 5,500 since the scheme began in 2024. FAHR simultaneously announced three support measures: a mentorship network pairing leave beneficiaries with seasoned entrepreneurs; a subsidised training agenda covering small-business finance, marketing and compliance; and an interactive portal that will go live in May to facilitate knowledge-sharing among participants. Although the programme targets Emiratis, its expansion matters to the wider mobility ecosystem. Many government entities rely on expatriate back-fills when UAE nationals go on extended leave, so relocation firms should expect a spike in short-term assignment requests starting this summer. Free-zone consultants also anticipate higher demand for low-cost freelance visas as alumni transition from civil service to private practice. Global corporates may find new partnership opportunities: FAHR’s mentorship platform is open to private-sector experts willing to advise budding founders, offering another channel for companies to engage with Emirati talent and bolster localisation goals under the UAE’s Emiratisation strategy.
Source: Dubai Times
