The document discusses starting a virtual assistant (VA) business in the UAE, covering role definitions, industry insights, and essential skills needed. It highlights the rise in freelancing within the UAE, emphasizing the demand for VAs and potential earnings. Key steps for setting up a VA business include marketable skills, defining niche services, and obtaining necessary legal permits.

1. How to start working as
a Virtual Assistant in
UAESPECIAL WEBINAR FOR WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

2. What will be covered:
VIRTUAL ASSISTANT- OPPORTUNITIES
IN UAE
INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLE
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
VA BUSINESS SETUP
ESSENTIAL VA SKILLSET
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS- UAE

3. Virtual Assistant (VA) is a small
online business owner that
provides admin, tech and
business support services
remotely for local and
international clients
WHO ARE VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS?
ROLE DEFINITION

4. Freelancing - UAE 2017
- 2017 is a year of freelancing - Forbes
- Tremendous Job-Seekers Rise - Bayt.com study
- Freelancing trend is beginning to trickle down
to the UAE. (TimeOut Dubai).
- Hiring costs are rising each year, which makes
SMEs and entrepreneurs seek for freelance
support- LMTD, Dubai
- 40 % increase in the number of freelancers
being hired by UAE companies - Nabbesh.
-Over 90,000 registered freelancers in the
Middle East and North Africa region.
-Freelancers report 15-20k/month earning on
average(Nabbesh).
- In 2014 the UAE ranked fifth globally in terms
of its online hiring spend over the Upwork
platform - Virtuzone.

5. VA Industry Insights
The term “virtual assistant” was born in 1996. In
1997 that the first organization for virtual
assistants called the AssistU was opened
by Anastacia Brice. AssistU works until today.
In 2016 research report of Virtalent , it is
predicted that by 2018, online working including
virtual assistant service will be worth $5 billion
as the demand for online virtual working
continues to grow.
GOOGLE SEARCH TRENDS
DATA
Almost a constant graph for
Virtual Assistant search
worldwide especially in last
five years.
ENTREPRENEUR.COM
Organizations worldwide are
wising up to
the benefits of hiring a virtual
assistant.

6. Earnings
VA’s work to their own
timetable and clients have to
discuss their needs to find the
right fit.
Most VA’s work normal 9 to 5
business hours, others work
around school drop off and pick
ups and others work whenever
you need them!
VAs charge per hour, per project
or per month.
Average VA rates are 10 USD per
hour (lowest bar) and 60 USD
per hour (highest bar).
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF VAS
Survey by VANA
Gender:
Female 96.8%
Male 3.0%
Is your VA business…
Full-time 58.9%
Part-time 41.0%
What is your hourly rate? (USD)
Less than $10 1.3%
$11-$20 10.3%
$21-$30 30.2%
$31-$4- 31.9%
$41-$50 17.6%
$51-$75 6.8%
$76-$99 1.5%
Study Findings
VAs with a background in
executive assistance, social media
management and digital marketing or
with powerskill combinations stand
to profit the most from the rapid uptick
in businesses hiring virtual assistant
services.

7. In Demand SkillSet
TECH SKILLS OF A VA
Basic Accounting
Ad Copy
Administrative Support
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Blogging
Bookkeeping
Business Development Support
Calendar Management
Basic Graphic Designing
Client Management
Contact Management
Document content/Copywriting
Customer Service
Data Entry
Document Management + filing
Membership management
E-book covers, copy & ghost writing
Editing and proofreading
Email newsletters/marketing
Executive assistance
Expense reports
Social Media management
Engagement with clientele
Ads setup and monitoring
Funnel/Lead Magnet design
Google Ads
Creatve html
Visual Posts/illustration
Event coordination
Invoicing
Launch strategy
Logo design
Media kits
Meeting agendas & minutes

8. VA TECH SKILLSET
And some more...
Microsoft office suite
Office management
Pdfs and worksheets (design)
PowerPoint Slide Design
Press releases
PMP Project Management
Sales copy
Landing page design
Scheduling
SEO
Templates design
Transcriptions
Travel planning
Web copy
Webinars - live and recorded
WordPress
You Tube
Video & Photo Editing

9. 10 Steps for VA Business Setup
VA BUSINESS
1. Business Plan
2. Acquiring Marketable Skills
3. Identifying your niche/speciaty
4. Home Office Setup
5. Identifying your client profile
6. Defining your services
7. Creating your profile, gigs and online presence
8. Obtaining necessary licences/permits
9. Defining your marketing strategy and
10. LAUNCH!

10. Pre-Launch Work
Mindset Transformation
Crush the business fears
Define your working schedule
Assess your skillset and acquire the
missing skills
Define your offer
Narrow down your client audience
Identify which pain points of your client
can you solve
Define your business & financial goals
Define your message, niche, domain and
elevator pitch
Design your business formula
Start providing valuable advice and
support in relevant groups

11. Legal Requirements
Freelancing is permitted in the UAE as long as you obtain the
requisite permits and approvals. The easiest path to
becoming a freelancer is to apply for a freelance work permit
and residence visa (if not sponsored by your spouse or
father) from a free zone. The free zone that currently offer a
free zone permit include Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio
City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Design District, Abu
Dhabi’s twofour54 and Fujairah Creative City. Note that your
profession would have to be related to the activity
of the free zone (7days.ae)
Options
Husband Visa
NOC from Your
Employer
Freelance Visa
from UAE
Freezones
Small Business/
StartUp
Working remotely
only with
international
clients

12. VA IS A GOOD
OPTION IF YOU
ARE READY TO:
1. Learn, implement and execute.
2. Become visible and present online.
3. Become an entrepreneur.
4. Market your services to people you don``t know.
5. Transform your mindset.
6. Step out of your comfort zone.
WWW.RISEASSIST.NET

13. THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?