Side Hustles in the Middle East

First of all, when I say “hustle” here I mean it with the highest respect. I am referring to people who go out of their way and always pursue a goal with a lot of resilience. When you think of the entrepreneurs who are at the top of the wealthiest people’s list today, a lot of them would fall into that hustler category. They didn’t hesitate to push their projects in front of the right people and they made it.

Now, what is a side hustle? A side hustle is what is commonly known as a side activity that brings you an additional income. A lot of entrepreneurs start a side hustle while keeping their day job until they feel confident they can make a living off of their side activity. Side hustles often rely on a passion or a talent of some sort. However, sometimes a side hustle is genuinely just a way to bring more money home. No matter what category of side hustler you are, or are looking to become, here is a list of ideas you can start in the Middle East.

1. Freelance fitness pro

Nowadays, personal trainers are everywhere. Especially, in a region such as the Middle East, where we take our cars for any errand or just get everything delivered to our doorsteps. In order to become an official PT, you need to get a personal training certificate, and then you would need to register with a suitable organization. In the UAE it is called the REP.

2. Freelance design, copywriter, translation, photographer, videographer

With the latest freelance license in the UAE, for 7,500 aed you can register to turn your talent or hobby into a real service. Additionally, it is worth noting that translation and copywriting in Arabic are highly in demand and people in marketing will know just how difficult it is to find the right copywriter.

3. Mystery shopping

You may not know this, but you can actually make money simply by answering surveys or taking missions to go mystery shopping. In the UAE, you can register with IPSOS via their site https://social.rewardingpanel.com/. Here, you will collect points for every survey that you fill. You can then exchange points for mall gift cards, cinema tickets and much more. Alternatively, if you have some time to visit stores, airports or malls, you can register with Albatross. You will receive missions and get paid for visiting a shop and giving your feedback on the customer experience.

4. Uber / Careem driver

A lot of people around the world have made substantial additional money by becoming a part-time Uber / Careem driver. Once you get your vehicle tested, approved and go through the training, you can decide when you want to work and how much you want to make. Sounds like a dream right?

5. Become an extra in movies

By all means, if you have the potential to become the lead role, go straight for that one. For the rest of us, why not register to receive casting opportunities and become extras in your city. Here are a couple of sites that will do the job https://mixfame.com/, https://www.onlinecasting.ae/auditions.asp

6. More ideas

In conclusion, we can say that the list is endless but just a few more ideas here: become a pet sitter, write an e-book, start a YouTube channel, become a personal chef, a personal shopper, or start tutoring.

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WRITTEN BY :

Omaya Michelle

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