Key Facts: Aruba vs United Arab Emirates Wages
- Aruba Minimum Wage
- ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Aruba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ƒ2,401.67 /mo ($1,341.72 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Aruba — Department of Labor and Research (2026-05-04), Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE); UAE has no universal statutory minimum wage — Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 empowers Cabinet to set one but none has been enacted (2026-05-04)
Aruba
United Arab Emirates
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike the United Arab Emirates, which has no statutory minimum wage, Aruba mandates a wage floor of $6/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,342/mo in Aruba versus $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates, a 3.2:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Aruba | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ƒ11.58 $6.47 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | ƒ2,007.20 $1,121.34 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | ƒ24,086.40 $13,456.09 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ƒ2,401.67 /mo $1,341.72 | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 |
| Median individual income /yr | ƒ27,040 /yr $15,106.15 | AED120,000 /yr $32,675.29 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Aruba is higher.
Work Week
- Aruba
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Workweeks of 42, 44, and 45 hours are also permitted with adjusted hourly rates. Governed by the Landsverordening minimumlonen (Ordinance on Minimum Wages).
- United Arab Emirates
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week (6-day week). Government sector moved to a 4.5-day week (Mon-Fri noon) in January 2022. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced by 2 hours/day. Overtime premium: 25% for normal overtime, 50% for overtime between 9pm-4am. Maximum 2 hours overtime per day. Friday is the weekly rest day (or as per contract).
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Aruba mandates 40 hours while the United Arab Emirates mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from United Arab Emirates's perspective: United Arab Emirates vs Aruba
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Aruba or United Arab Emirates?
In Aruba, the minimum wage is ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD). In the United Arab Emirates, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Aruba compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average gross salary in Aruba is ƒ2,401.67/mo ($1,341.72 USD), compared to AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD) in the United Arab Emirates. In USD terms, workers in Aruba earn approximately 225% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Aruba and United Arab Emirates is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the United Arab Emirates earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Aruba.
How do work hours compare between Aruba and United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Aruba. Workers in Aruba work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Aruba working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.