10 Best Side Hustles in Dubai to Earn Money

No Investment Business Ideas in Dubai UAE

Whether you’re new in Dubai or have been living here for years you can try Side Hustles in Dubai. In Dubai and other UAE emirates, the pursuit of happiness through the race to earn money is a common reason why many foreigners move here. Yet, how can you generate a side income despite the demanding daily work and commitments that come with living in the UAE?

This article will highlight 10 side hustles in Dubai that can help you earn extra cash and maximize your enjoyment of this great city or other Emirates.

Side Hustles in Dubai 2024

Living in a big city like Dubai is expensive, and finding a new way to make extra money can be very helpful. If you are wondering how to have extra income in Dubai, never underestimate the benefits of side hustles and how they can improve your financial situation. Although some side hustles in Dubai require specific skills, many profitable opportunities don’t need previous experience.

Start small today, promote your services in local communities, and later expand your services to earn more income. Utilize online platforms to find a suitable side hustle and spread the word about your services locally for a reasonable budget.

Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.

1. Consider Pet House sitting as Side Hustles in Dubai

There are currently more than 1.3 million pets in the UAE and you should see that as an opportunity to make money. How so?

These fur babies need to be taken care of when their owners leave for the office or go out on a date. If you are an animal lover, you can house sit these pets while their owners return. You can also take the dogs out in the local community for a walk and have some fun. Also, the side income will increase significantly if some particular skills are involved, like training or a specific type of pet care.

Gaining people’s trust isn’t easy, but once you become their pet’s favourite house sitter or daily walker, you become a part of their life.

2. Social Media Management for SMEs

Surfing through social media is time-consuming today, and people spend almost all their spare time checking Facebook, TikTok, or viewing the latest Instagram reels. Therefore, all businesses are adding digital ads to their marketing strategy, especially small businesses in Dubai.

However, these small businesses either have no time or do not know how to manage their social media accounts. So if you’re skilled with social media, you can easily earn some money on the side by offering your services to SMEs as a freelance digital marketing specialist.

3. Become a Digital Content Creator

Having that 15 minutes of fame on social media is now available for everyone with something new to bring to the table. People can make videos about dancing, cooking shows, travel guides, lifestyle tips, and much more; the options are endless and the sky is your limit when it comes to impressing people on social media.

Content creation is a booming industry in Dubai, attracting creators from around the world, so it could be an excellent opportunity to build a followers base and create extra income.

Some platforms like TikTok have payment programs for micro-influencers and content creators. And you don’t have to be Kim Kardashian to start your content creation career today.

4. Invest in Dividend Stocks

It might be terrifying to think of stocks as one of the ways to earn money in Dubai, but with a small amount of money, anyone can own equity in a company – and thus a share of its profits.

“Dividend stocks” are the stocks of companies that pay money to shareholders every quarter; those payments are called dividends.

The dividend yield on dividend stocks can range from 1% to 5% per stock, depending on the company. The more shares you have, the more dividends you can get.

5. Create a YouTube channel

Youtubers are everywhere; it feels like everyone with a camera or mobile phone is starting a channel. Youtube is one of the most practical platforms to generate a passive income in Dubai. The platform pays content creators per view after they have reached a specific threshold.

The key is to build a following by uploading videos on topics that people find interesting or helpful. These topics can range from fashion, education, health and wellness, beauty, self development, etc.

Being in Dubai provides opportunities for unique content to cover topics such as entertainment facilities, celebrities, and multicultural communities.

6. Cook Homemade Dishes

Dubai and the other emirates are appropriate destinations for starting a new life, getting a better opportunity, or having a nice vacation. And people that move and live here all share the excitement of exploring new things, of which food is on top of the list.

Cooking skills can be a delicious way to earn extra money in Dubai. For a start, prepare some traditional dishes and desserts on the weekend or in spare time and sell them in the neighbourhood.

Moreover, cooperating with local restaurants and bakeries can be a step toward expanding the business if people like your food.

Just keep in mind that you will need to register for a food trading licence to start working on any such gig in the UAE.

7. Prepare an Online Course

Online learning is a vast industry, with thousands of online courses for almost everything – from doing simple tasks to starting a new business.

Preparing a course requires expertise around the topic of interest, and people can pay good money to get the expert knowledge you offer.

Although creating an entire course about the area of expertise requires time and effort, you only have to do it once. When published on websites like Udemy, it could generate a reasonable passive income in Dubai.

8. Work as a Part-Time Tourist Guide

Dubai is full of various cultures, landscapes, and entertainment venues, making it a popular destination for millions of tourists worldwide. So, unsurprisingly, helping those tourists can be one of the best ways to earn money in Dubai.

This side job needs a licence in Dubai, but it is worth the effort. Also, it’s not enough to know where to get the best burger in the city; comprehensive knowledge of Dubai is required to offer best-in-class tourist guidance.

That being said, touring around, having fun, and enjoying the scenery of Dubai could be one of the best jobs for extra income.

9. Teaching Kids or Babysitting Side Hustles in Dubai

Dubai is a land of many languages thanks to its unique mix of residents from all around the world. Skills in a particular language provides an opportunity to earn extra money by helping children of clients with homework and the improvement of their language abilities.

Additionally, babysitting is also a profitable job in Dubai. You can start with the local community and neighbours who need a babysitter for a night out on the weekend, and who may value you speaking your language to their children. Having a good time and making the kids enjoy your company boosts word of mouth referrals and you can turn it into a regular side hustle to gain some extra money in Dubai.

10. Create Professional Resumes

Dubai is attracting job seekers from all around the world, and every work opportunity will require a good resume to apply. Many job seekers don’t know how to create a resume making the “resume business” in significant demand.

With some experience in the Dubai market, building quality resumes won’t be a problem. Moreover, you can utilize online templates that are available for free (or at affordable prices) and combine that with your knowledge of Dubai’s hiring preferences to produce quality work.

These are The Best Side Hustles in Dubai