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United Arab Emirates · AED · 2026

Salaries in the United Arab Emirates

What 32 careers pay in the United Arab Emirates, highest first. The middle of the table sits around AED 365,000 a year; surgeons lead at AED 1,100,000.

# Career Industry Entry Median Senior Hourly
1 Surgeon Healthcare AED 790k AED 1,100,000 AED 2m AED 441
2 Investment Banker Finance AED 385k AED 625,000 AED 2.1m AED 250
3 Quantitative Analyst Finance AED 365k AED 570,000 AED 1.6m AED 228
4 Commercial Pilot Aviation AED 215k AED 530,000 AED 1.6m AED 212
5 Dentist Healthcare AED 365k AED 530,000 AED 935k AED 212
6 Machine Learning Engineer Technology AED 355k AED 515,000 AED 1.1m AED 206
7 Lawyer Legal AED 215k AED 460,000 AED 1.3m AED 184
8 Air Traffic Controller Aviation AED 235k AED 420,000 AED 625k AED 168
9 Aerospace Engineer Aviation AED 250k AED 405,000 AED 605k AED 162
10 Data Scientist Technology AED 240k AED 405,000 AED 680k AED 162
11 Pharmacist Healthcare AED 325k AED 405,000 AED 515k AED 162
12 Product Manager Technology AED 285k AED 405,000 AED 770k AED 162
13 Software Engineer Technology AED 230k AED 405,000 AED 770k AED 162
14 Actuary Finance AED 220k AED 385,000 AED 790k AED 154
15 DevOps Engineer Technology AED 265k AED 385,000 AED 680k AED 154
16 Physician Assistant Healthcare AED 310k AED 385,000 AED 530k AED 154
17 Project Manager Technology AED 235k AED 365,000 AED 570k AED 146
18 Cybersecurity Analyst Technology AED 215k AED 360,000 AED 605k AED 144
19 Elevator Technician Skilled Trades AED 170k AED 310,000 AED 475k AED 124
20 UX Designer Technology AED 215k AED 310,000 AED 550k AED 124
21 Registered Nurse Healthcare AED 205k AED 295,000 AED 420k AED 118
22 Compliance Officer Legal AED 215k AED 285,000 AED 530k AED 114
23 Data Analyst Technology AED 185k AED 265,000 AED 440k AED 106
24 Financial Analyst Finance AED 195k AED 265,000 AED 460k AED 106
25 Accountant Finance AED 180k AED 250,000 AED 420k AED 100
26 Aircraft Mechanic Aviation AED 140k AED 235,000 AED 365k AED 94
27 Flight Attendant Aviation AED 110k AED 215,000 AED 325k AED 86
28 Electrician Skilled Trades AED 130k AED 195,000 AED 345k AED 78
29 Plumber Skilled Trades AED 125k AED 195,000 AED 325k AED 78
30 HVAC Technician Skilled Trades AED 115k AED 185,000 AED 285k AED 74
31 Paralegal Legal AED 135k AED 185,000 AED 325k AED 74
32 Welder Skilled Trades AED 110k AED 160,000 AED 345k AED 64

Gross annual pay before tax. Hourly rates assume a standard 48-hour week. How we estimate these figures.

Working in the United Arab Emirates

Dubai and Abu Dhabi combine strong salaries with zero income tax, which is why the UAE keeps pulling senior talent in finance, tech and aviation. Packages often include housing allowances; the lifestyle cost is heat, distance and a fully expat-driven market.

Tax

No personal income tax, and expats pay no social security contributions, so for foreign workers gross pay is close to take-home pay. UAE nationals pay into a state pension.

Tools and guides for the United Arab Emirates

Questions about pay in the United Arab Emirates

What is the highest-paying job in the United Arab Emirates?

Of the 32 careers Paygrade tracks, surgeons earn the most in the United Arab Emirates, with a median of about AED 1,100,000 a year in 2026. Investment bankers (AED 625,000) and quantitative analysts (AED 570,000) follow.

What is the best-paid job in the United Arab Emirates without a degree?

Commercial pilots earn a median of about AED 530,000 a year in the United Arab Emirates, and the usual route in is certification rather than a university degree.

How much tax will I pay on a salary in the United Arab Emirates?

No personal income tax, and expats pay no social security contributions, so for foreign workers gross pay is close to take-home pay. UAE nationals pay into a state pension.