UAE Salary Benchmarks 2026
Basic-salary ranges for tech, consulting, finance, product, and data roles in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. All figures are monthly basic salary in AED. Total package is typically 40-60% higher when allowances are added.
Data last verified July 2026 · bands blended from published salary guides and recruiter surveys
Showing 24 of 24 roles
Software Engineer (mid)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 20,000 to AED 30,000
≈ £51,064 to £76,596 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 18,000 to AED 27,000
≈ £45,957 to £68,936 /yr
Dubai mid AED 25,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £91,848 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonReact, Node, Python. DIFC / Dubai Internet City tech companies.
Software Engineer (senior)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 28,000 to AED 42,000
≈ £71,489 to £107,234 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 25,000 to AED 38,000
≈ £63,830 to £97,021 /yr
Dubai mid AED 35,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £141,625 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonStrong engineers with 5+ years.
Frontend Developer (senior)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 22,000 to AED 35,000
≈ £56,170 to £89,362 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 20,000 to AED 32,000
≈ £51,064 to £81,702 /yr
Dubai mid AED 28,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £108,767 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonReact / Vue. Slightly lower than backend equivalents.
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 25,000 to AED 40,000
≈ £63,830 to £102,128 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 22,000 to AED 36,000
≈ £56,170 to £91,915 /yr
Dubai mid AED 32,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £129,581 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonKubernetes, AWS / GCP. Strong demand in banking and telecoms.
Cybersecurity Engineer (senior)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 28,000 to AED 45,000
≈ £71,489 to £114,894 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 26,000 to AED 42,000
≈ £66,383 to £107,234 /yr
Dubai mid AED 36,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £148,849 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonGovernment and defence demand in Abu Dhabi is very strong.
Engineering Manager
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 40,000 to AED 60,000
≈ £102,128 to £153,191 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 35,000 to AED 55,000
≈ £89,362 to £140,426 /yr
Dubai mid AED 50,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £213,885 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonLeading teams of 6-15. Dubai premium vs Abu Dhabi.
CTO / VP Engineering
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 55,000 to AED 90,000
≈ £140,426 to £229,787 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 50,000 to AED 85,000
≈ £127,660 to £217,021 /yr
Dubai mid AED 72,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £322,274 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonScale-ups and enterprise. Wide range based on company size.
Product Manager (mid)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 22,000 to AED 32,000
≈ £56,170 to £81,702 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 18,000 to AED 28,000
≈ £45,957 to £71,489 /yr
Dubai mid AED 27,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £100,788 UK gross salary
Run your comparison3-6 years experience. Fintech / e-commerce premium.
Senior Product Manager
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 30,000 to AED 48,000
≈ £76,596 to £122,553 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 26,000 to AED 42,000
≈ £66,383 to £107,234 /yr
Dubai mid AED 39,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £160,893 UK gross salary
Run your comparison6+ years. Strong demand in fintech, payments, and super-apps.
Head of Product / VP Product
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 45,000 to AED 70,000
≈ £114,894 to £178,723 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 40,000 to AED 65,000
≈ £102,128 to £165,957 /yr
Dubai mid AED 57,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £250,015 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonSignificant equity possible in scale-up context.
Data Analyst (mid)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 18,000 to AED 27,000
≈ £45,957 to £68,936 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 16,000 to AED 24,000
≈ £40,851 to £61,277 /yr
Dubai mid AED 22,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £80,843 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonSQL, Tableau / Power BI. Finance and retail sectors.
Data Scientist (senior)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 28,000 to AED 45,000
≈ £71,489 to £114,894 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 25,000 to AED 40,000
≈ £63,830 to £102,128 /yr
Dubai mid AED 36,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £148,849 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonPython, ML. Banking and government AI initiatives.
Data Engineer (senior)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 28,000 to AED 43,000
≈ £71,489 to £109,787 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 25,000 to AED 38,000
≈ £63,830 to £97,021 /yr
Dubai mid AED 35,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £144,032 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonSpark, dbt, cloud warehouses.
ML Engineer (senior)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 32,000 to AED 50,000
≈ £81,702 to £127,660 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 30,000 to AED 48,000
≈ £76,596 to £122,553 /yr
Dubai mid AED 41,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £170,528 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonStrong demand at G42 / Core42, ADNOC Digital, and tech scale-ups.
Head of Data / Chief Data Officer
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 45,000 to AED 70,000
≈ £114,894 to £178,723 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 40,000 to AED 65,000
≈ £102,128 to £165,957 /yr
Dubai mid AED 57,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £250,015 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonC-suite or Director level. Strong sovereign / energy demand.
Management Consultant (junior)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 18,000 to AED 26,000
≈ £45,957 to £66,383 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 16,000 to AED 23,000
≈ £40,851 to £58,723 /yr
Dubai mid AED 22,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £78,642 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonBig 4, Big 3 regional offices. 2-4 years experience.
Management Consultant (manager)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 30,000 to AED 46,000
≈ £76,596 to £117,447 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 27,000 to AED 42,000
≈ £68,936 to £107,234 /yr
Dubai mid AED 38,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £156,076 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonLeading workstreams. 5-8 years.
Senior Manager / Principal
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 42,000 to AED 65,000
≈ £107,234 to £165,957 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 38,000 to AED 58,000
≈ £97,021 to £148,085 /yr
Dubai mid AED 53,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £230,745 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonMBB / Big 4 SM-level or boutique director.
Partner / Director (Consulting)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 60,000 to AED 120,000
≈ £153,191 to £306,383 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 55,000 to AED 110,000
≈ £140,426 to £280,851 /yr
Dubai mid AED 90,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £406,578 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonSignificant profit share / equity. Wide range by firm.
Financial Analyst (mid)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 20,000 to AED 30,000
≈ £51,064 to £76,596 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 18,000 to AED 27,000
≈ £45,957 to £68,936 /yr
Dubai mid AED 25,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £91,848 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonIBD / asset management / corporate finance. 3-5 years.
Investment Banking Associate
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 30,000 to AED 48,000
≈ £76,596 to £122,553 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 28,000 to AED 44,000
≈ £71,489 to £112,340 /yr
Dubai mid AED 39,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £160,893 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonDIFC banks. Bonus is the lion's share at this level.
VP Investment Banking
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 45,000 to AED 72,000
≈ £114,894 to £183,830 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 42,000 to AED 68,000
≈ £107,234 to £173,617 /yr
Dubai mid AED 58,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £254,832 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonDIFC / ADGM. Bonus enormous in a good year.
Finance Manager / FP&A Manager
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 25,000 to AED 38,000
≈ £63,830 to £97,021 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 22,000 to AED 34,000
≈ £56,170 to £86,809 /yr
Dubai mid AED 31,500/mo tax-free nets the same as a £124,725 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonCorporate finance / FP&A. Strong across all sectors.
CFO (mid-size company)
Dubai · monthly basic
AED 50,000 to AED 100,000
≈ £127,660 to £255,319 /yr
Abu Dhabi · monthly basic
AED 45,000 to AED 90,000
≈ £114,894 to £229,787 /yr
Dubai mid AED 75,000/mo tax-free nets the same as a £334,317 UK gross salary
Run your comparisonVery wide range. Big-company CFOs at the top of the range.
Got an offer? Run the numbers.
The Package Decoder takes your full UAE offer (basic + allowances + benefits) and compares it to your UK net pay. See whether the headline figure is the genuine win it looks like.
Aggregated from published salary guides and recruiter salary surveys. Updated for 2026. Treat as guidance: actual offers depend on company, function, and negotiation.