The minimum wage and average salary in the UAE in 2026

If you're looking for work in the United Arab Emirates, you'll be happy to hear that the country hires the majority of its workforce from overseas. Expats work in a range of fields, including teaching, nursing, and air traffic control. Given the diversity of roles, salaries vary greatly.

However, several factors determine how much you'll get paid. Find out about average salaries in the UAE in the following sections:

• Minimum wage in the UAE in 2025

• Salaries and wages for international workers in the United Arab EmiratesLow-income expatsHigh-income expats

• Low-income expats

• High-income expats

• Average salary in the United Arab Emirates in 2025Highest-paying sectors in the UAE in 2025What are the highest-paying jobs in the UAE in 2025?Salary checker in the UAE

• Highest-paying sectors in the UAE in 2025

• What are the highest-paying jobs in the UAE in 2025?

• Salary checker in the UAE

• Gender pay gap in the UAE

• What to do if your salary is too low in the United Arab Emirates

• Useful resources

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Minimum wage in the UAE in 2025

The UAE does not have an official minimum wage. Also, there is no minimum wage in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or any other city or Emirate. The Emirati government only stipulates that salaries must cover employees' basic needs.

In 2013, however, the Ministry of Labour introduced non-binding minimum wage guidelines for private sector workers:

• University graduates: AED 12,000

• Technicians: AED 7,000

• Skilled laborers: AED 5,000

These suggested salaries apply to both Emirati nationals and non-citizens, but they are not legal requirements, and they remain unchanged as of early 2025.

While article 27 of Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021 suggests that a minimum wage could exist in the future, the government has not yet enacted this resolution.

Salaries and wages for international workers in the United Arab Emirates

Billing itself as an international business hub, the UAE attracts businesses that bring in employees from all around the world. In fact, internationals make up 74% of residents. Most come from Southern Asia, especially India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

According to the latest available government statistics, 48% of employed non-citizens earned under AED 2,500 per month in 2019, showing a large concentration of low-wage workers among expatriates. This was the case for only 0.2% of Emirati nationals.

Finding a job in the UAE

Only 17.5% of international workers in the UAE earned more than AED 10,000 per month, compared to 76% of employed UAE citizens.

Low-income expats

Unfortunately, a lack of minimum wage means that employers set conditions for employment without any real salary regulation. For most expats in the UAE, this means a lower salary than Emirati citizens.

Low-income internationals, often from south or southeast Asia, usually take jobs as drivers, household helpers, construction workers, and other physical roles.

Many nations that send migrant workers to the UAE set salary expectations for certain positions, and most employment agencies respect this form of regulation.

High-income expats

Although a large proportion of internationals in the UAE earn very little in comparison to their Emirati counterparts, the country is also home to high earners from all over the world.

There are several reasons why some roles pay generous salaries. For example, in recent years, the UAE has focused on 'innovation' and diversifying its economy from relying on oil and gas. Therefore, it has brought in professionals from abroad with in-demand skills and expertise.

For high-income expats, a lack of salary standards can mean more room to comfortably negotiate remuneration packages.

Average salary in the United Arab Emirates in 2025

The average salary in the UAE in 2024 was AED 13,450, or US$3,663, according to CEOWorld Magazine. This is the highest average wage among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and according to Mercer, this is expected to rise by 4% in 2025.

However, the usefulness of these figures is debatable, considering the huge disparities in wages among workers in the UAE. Salaries depend on the line of work and experience, but they are also dependent on employers and, unfortunately, your passport.

Getting a work visa in the United Arab Emirates

All employers must cover health insurance and an end-of-service gratuity for their workers. Mid-to-high income expats may also find that their benefits comprise allowances for housing, transport, health, and education. They may also be entitled to an airfare for home visits. Meanwhile, other workers may be provided with accommodation, but other benefits are rare.

Highest-paying sectors in the UAE in 2025

According to data from Paylab, a platform that collects and shares data on salary surveys, the highest-paying sectors and industries in the UAE are as follows:

Sector

Average monthly salary

Top management

AED 37,882

Management

AED 23,970

Leasing

AED 22,909

Technology, Development

AED 22,290

Telecommunications

AED 20,092

Meanwhile, these industries have the lowest average monthly salaries:

Sector

Average monthly salary

General labour

AED 10,083

Textile, Leather, Apparel industry

AED 10,282

Service industries

AED 12,248

Tourism, Gastronomy, Hotel

AED 13,438

Administration

AED 13,618

The sectors with the largest proportion of international workers include many on the lower end of the pay scale, including construction, domestic work, and administrative support services.

What are the highest-paying jobs in the UAE in 2025?

Paylab's surveys suggest that these are the highest-paying jobs in the UAE:

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): AED 23,221–91,379

• IT Director: AED 20,944–85,936

• Leasing Director: AED 20,239–82,478

• Country Manager/Director: AED 18,403–75,691

• Plant Manager: AED 18,882–74,847

Outside of (top) management, these are some of the highest-paying positions:

• Pilot: AED 17,499–73,503

• IT Architect: AED 20,213–70,562

• Lead Developer: AED 21,352–60,826

• IC Design Engineer: AED 16,092–59,765

• Data Scientist: AED 13,465–45,679

Salary checker in the UAE

If you want to check whether your salary is high enough, it's worth visiting PayScale or Paylab, where you can compare your wages with averages for your position and location. Glassdoor also provides insight into salaries, as well as honest reviews from current and former employees.

Gender pay gap in the UAE

The Emirati government has a law mandating equal wages for male and female colleagues. And although it ranks 74th 2024 Global Gender Gap Index, it sits in 10th place for perceived wage equality for similar work.

However, government statistics show that women still tend to be in lower-paid roles, 12% of Emirati women earn less than AED 10,000 compared to 2.1% of men. Among foreign workers, the gap is smaller, with 77.9% of men and 77.5% of women earning below this threshold.

What to do if your salary is too low in the United Arab Emirates

Because the government maintains that employment conditions are matters for the employer and employee, once you have signed an employment contract, there is little you can do without renegotiating it. You can, however, always reach out to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) where you can learn more about your rights and options.

On the other hand, if you have not received your salary on time, you can make a complaint through the MOHRE.

Useful resources

• Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation, information on the labor market and regulations

• Paylab, compare your salary with others in your line of work