Average Salary in United Arab Emirates 2026

Currency: AED · Updated for 2026

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How much money does a person working in United Arab Emirates make?

Average Monthly Salary

15,990 AED

( 191,882 AED yearly )

~ 4,357 USD per month ( 52,284 USD yearly )

LOW

3,997 AED

1,089 USD

AVERAGE

15,990 AED

4,357 USD

HIGH

55,968 AED

15,250 USD

A person working in United Arab Emirates typically earns around 15,990 AED per month. Salaries range from 3,997 AED (lowest average) to 55,968 AED (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).

This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.

Distribution of Salaries in United Arab Emirates

Median and salary distribution monthly United Arab Emirates

3,997 AED
Minimum
8,793 AED
25th
14,071 AED
Median
15,990 AED
Average
22,387 AED
75th
55,968 AED
Maximum

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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.

The median (14,071 AED) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (15,990 AED) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

  1. 0–2 Years (Entry Level)95,941 AED
  2. 2–5 Years (Junior)124,725 AED
  3. 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)163,098 AED
  4. 10–15 Years (Experienced)191,882 AED
  5. 15+ Years (Senior)230,259 AED

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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.

Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.

Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.

As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.

“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”

Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

  1. High School115,128 AED
  2. Certificate134,318 AED
  3. Associate153,505 AED
  4. Bachelor's191,882 AED
  5. Master's230,259 AED
  6. PhD268,637 AED

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High SchoolCertificate

+17%

CertificateBachelor's

+43%

Bachelor'sMaster's

+20%

Master'sPhD

+17%

It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.

Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.

Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.

Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.

Salary Comparison By Gender

Salary comparison by gender monthly United Arab Emirates

191,882 AED
Male+13%
166,937 AED
Female-13%

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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in United Arab Emirates earn 13% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in United Arab Emirates

How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?

9%

Average Raise

13 months

Review Frequency

8%

Annualized Increase

Employees in United Arab Emirates are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 13 months.

The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in United Arab Emirates is 8%.

Bonus and Incentive Rates in United Arab Emirates

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?

48%

Received Bonus

52%

No Bonus

48% of surveyed staff in United Arab Emirates reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.

Average Bonus Rate

9%

of annual salary

Types of Bonuses Considered:

• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

• Company Performance Bonuses

• Goal-Based Bonuses

• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

Finance: HighSales: HighInformation Technology: High

Top 5 Highest Paying Industries

Annual average salaries

  1. Legal259,040 AED
  2. Aviation249,446 AED
  3. Information Technology249,446 AED
  4. Banking239,853 AED
  5. Pharmaceuticals239,853 AED

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Salaries for Popular Jobs

Sample job titles and their average salaries

Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly Salary
Surgeon479,706 AED39,977 AED
Pilot383,765 AED31,980 AED
Software Developer345,387 AED28,784 AED
Data Scientist326,201 AED27,184 AED
Financial Manager307,010 AED25,584 AED
Database Administrator287,823 AED23,987 AED
Engineer268,637 AED22,387 AED
Marketing Manager249,446 AED20,787 AED
Project Manager239,853 AED19,987 AED
Accountant211,069 AED17,590 AED
Hotel Manager191,882 AED15,990 AED
Nurse172,696 AED14,390 AED
Graphic Designer163,098 AED13,590 AED
Chef143,912 AED11,994 AED
Teacher134,318 AED11,194 AED

Salary Comparison By City

Average annual salaries by city

CityAverage Salary
Abu Dhabi220,666 AED
Dubai201,476 AED
Sharjah201,476 AED
Ajman201,476 AED
Ras Al Khaimah201,476 AED

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more?

15,190 AED

Private Sector

16,790 AED

Public Sector

+11%

Public sector employees in United Arab Emirates earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.

Average Hourly Wage in United Arab Emirates

92 AED

per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in United Arab Emirates is 92 AED. This means that the average person in United Arab Emirates earns approximately 92 AED for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)

Cost of Living in United Arab Emirates

Estimated monthly expenses

Rent

2,224 AED

/month

Food

712 AED

/month

Transport

268 AED

/month

Utilities

356 AED

/month

Compare Your Salary

See how your salary compares with the average in United Arab Emirates and explore top-paying jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary in United Arab Emirates?
The average salary in United Arab Emirates is approximately 191,882 AED per year, or 15,990 AED per month before taxes. Salaries range from 3,997 AED (minimum) to 55,968 AED (maximum).
What is the difference between median and average salary?
The median salary (14,071 AED) is the middle value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (15,990 AED) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers. If your salary is higher than both, you are doing very well. If lower than both, there is room for improvement.
Which careers pay the most in United Arab Emirates?
The highest paying industries in United Arab Emirates include Legal, Aviation, Information Technology. View all top jobs →
How is this salary data calculated?
Average gross monthly salary data from the Economic Research Institute (ERI) and SalaryExpert. Figures are estimates and may vary based on experience, location, industry, and other factors. Local currency conversions use market exchange rates.

Salary data on this page is based on research from the Economic Research Institute (ERI) and SalaryExpert. Figures are estimates and may vary based on experience, location, industry, and other factors.