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Minimum wage in the United Arab Emirates

No minimum wage set by law or by general agreement

The United Arab Emirates has no general minimum wage for private-sector workers. A minimum applies to Emirati citizens in the private sector, and pay for everyone else is set by contract.

There is no single statutory figure to show for the United Arab Emirates.

Checked October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Check the date. Minimum wages change, in many countries every year. The figure above is the one in force at the date shown. Confirm the current amount with the official source below before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal or employment advice.

Who sets it

Pay is set by the employment contract, within the labour law. The labour law lets the Cabinet set a minimum wage, but no general minimum has been set for the wider workforce. A separate minimum applies to Emirati citizens working in the private sector.

How it changes

There is no automatic yearly adjustment for the general workforce. The rule for Emirati citizens has been raised by decision of the authorities.

Who is covered, and who is treated differently

  • Most private-sector workers are expatriates, who are not covered by a statutory minimum.
  • Employers must pay wages through the approved wage protection system, so late or missing pay can be tracked.

What to watch for

  • There is no single figure to quote for the whole workforce. Check the employment contract and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

Understand the legal system first

The United Arab Emirates belongs to the Religious (Islamic) law is a leading source family. How pay is regulated depends on how the legal system makes and applies labour law.

Read the United Arab Emirates legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare United Arab Emirates with another country →

Official sources

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TheLawToKnow Tools’s Minimum Wage by Country guide is an educational overview. It is not legal or employment advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.