Salaries in the UAE 2025

Salaries by industry

Salary in the UAE, as everywhere else, depends on qualifications, industry, work experience, as well as nationality and knowledge of English language. The lowest salary awaits candidates seeking jobs that do not require qualifications and who do not speak English. High-level specialists with a good command of English at least at C1 level can expect a high salary.

There is no officially established minimum wage in the Emirates. However, newcomers can expect a salary of at least 3000 dirhams per month. The cost of living per person excluding rent is about 4000 dirhams. If the salary is below the cost of living, the employer may provide compensation for accommodation, transport, and meals.

Candidates with qualifications and work experience can expect a salary starting from 8000 dirhams, and if they have a higher education diploma legalized by the UAE Ministry, from 16,000 dirhams. The average monthly earnings are about 20,000 dirhams. Below are examples of some professions with approximate annual remuneration levels ranged from specialists with little or no experience in the specified field to specialists with decent experience and additional qualifications*. Data is valid as of February 2024.

Skilled Jobs

Chief Accountant (SME): 246 000 - 410 000 dirhams per year

Financial Analyst: 176 000 -  300 000 dirhams per year

Credit Manager: 250 000 - 375 000 dirhams per year

IT Manager with >10 years of experience: 390 000 - 720 000 dirhams per year

IT Administrator: 157 000 - 370 000 dirhams per year

Project/Program Manager: 375 000 - 550 000 dirhams per year

HR Manager: 300 000 - 500 000 dirhams per year

Legal Counsel with 3-5 years of experience: 310 000 - 350 000 dirhams per year

*based on the data provided by the consulting company Robert Half

Unskilled Jobs

As for unskilled labor, the rates will be approximately as follows:

Taxi Driver - 4000-6000 dirhams per month

Waiter/waitress - 1500-2500 dirhams per month + benefits

Housemaid - 2000-4000 dirhams per month + benefits

Security Guard - 1500-4000 dirhams per month + benefits

Electrician - 1500-4000 dirhams per month + benefits

*based on statistics from LinkedIn

Salary by experience

The level of remuneration is also influenced by the candidate's experience. Those with 2 to 5 years of experience earn 35% more than those who are just starting their professional journey. When experience exceeds 10 years, the salary increases by an additional 20%, and beyond 15 years, an additional 15%.

What job positions do foreigners hold?

The Emirates is a multinational country where representatives of different cultures and religions successfully interact, and a high level of tolerance is maintained. The staff of companies is often ethnically diverse, but there are certain trends in personnel selection by nationality. Europeans, Britons, citizens of the USA, and post-Soviet countries usually hold high-skilled positions and receive higher salaries, starting from $10,000. Africans and Asians more often work in services and earn less. In addition, there are national preferences in choosing candidates for specific positions. For example, Indians and Pakistanis, who make up a significant part of Dubai's population, perform well in IT, accounting, construction, repair, and maintenance of technology. Africans and Filipinos are more often hired in customer service, as they are reliable, non-conflictual, and proficient in English.

Base rate and bonuses

Salary consists of a base rate and additional payments. The base rate is specified in the contract and covers contractual obligations. In addition to the salary, an employee may receive compensation for phone calls, transportation, housing, and meals. All these options depend on the specific company and are negotiated separately. Moreover, the company may operate a bonus system. As a rule, the more the company's income depends on the employee's performance, the higher their bonuses will be. The size of the bonus varies from 3% to 5%. Bonuses can be of the following types:

• Individual performance bonus
• Company performance bonus
• Task completion bonus
• Annual holiday bonus

The size of the bonus also depends on the industry.

• High bonuses are received by specialists in the following industries: finance, architecture, business development, marketing, sales.
• Average bonuses are received by workers in IT, healthcare, insurance, customer service, and HR.
• Low bonuses are typical in construction, transportation, and the hospitality industry.

Additionally, it is worth noting that when officially employing a foreign worker, the company covers the cost of their work visa, medical insurance, and provides paid leave in accordance with UAE labor law.

Salary and Taxes

A huge advantage of employment in the UAE is the absence of income tax, as well as taxes on dividends, interest, wealth, inheritance, gifts, and capital gains. This means that employees can spend all their earnings at their discretion.

Conclusion

Companies in Dubai offer their employees decent remuneration and an attractive benefits package. However, it is important to keep in mind that the cost of living in the emirate is high, with a significant portion being spent on housing. Expenses increase every year, while salary growth in some sectors is limited. To avoid reducing employee income levels, companies cut back on housing, medical, and education compensation. In the field of finance and accounting, average wages are expected to increase by 1.6% in 2024, in IT by 1.2%, in HR by 4.4%, in law by 0.65%, and in financial services by 1.2%.

However, the most attractive asset in this portfolio is high-standards of life in the Emirates, for which specialists are ready to make some sacrifices while continuing to enjoy all the benefits of residency in the UAE.