Average Salary in United Arab Emirates 2026
Currency: AED · Updated for 2026
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
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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?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)95,941 AED
- 2–5 Years (Junior)124,725 AED
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)163,098 AED
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)191,882 AED
- 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?
- High School115,128 AED
- Certificate134,318 AED
- Associate153,505 AED
- Bachelor's191,882 AED
- Master's230,259 AED
- PhD268,637 AED
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+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
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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
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal259,040 AED
- Aviation249,446 AED
- Information Technology249,446 AED
- Banking239,853 AED
- Pharmaceuticals239,853 AED
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 479,706 AED | 39,977 AED |
| Pilot | 383,765 AED | 31,980 AED |
| Software Developer | 345,387 AED | 28,784 AED |
| Data Scientist | 326,201 AED | 27,184 AED |
| Financial Manager | 307,010 AED | 25,584 AED |
| Database Administrator | 287,823 AED | 23,987 AED |
| Engineer | 268,637 AED | 22,387 AED |
| Marketing Manager | 249,446 AED | 20,787 AED |
| Project Manager | 239,853 AED | 19,987 AED |
| Accountant | 211,069 AED | 17,590 AED |
| Hotel Manager | 191,882 AED | 15,990 AED |
| Nurse | 172,696 AED | 14,390 AED |
| Graphic Designer | 163,098 AED | 13,590 AED |
| Chef | 143,912 AED | 11,994 AED |
| Teacher | 134,318 AED | 11,194 AED |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 220,666 AED |
| Dubai | 201,476 AED |
| Sharjah | 201,476 AED |
| Ajman | 201,476 AED |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 201,476 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.