Key Facts: Cuba vs United Arab Emirates Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), 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)
Cuba 
United Arab Emirates
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike the United Arab Emirates, which has no statutory minimum wage, Cuba mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates, a 268.6:1 ratio.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to the United Arab Emirates' 2.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | AED120,000 /yr $32,675.29 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cuba is higher.
Work Week
- Cuba
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/week.
- 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: Cuba mandates 44 hours while the United Arab Emirates mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from United Arab Emirates's perspective: United Arab Emirates vs Cuba
Compare Cuba with...
Cuba vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Cuba vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Cuba vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Cuba vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Cuba vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Cuba vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Cuba vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Cuba vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Cuba vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Cuba vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Cuba vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Cuba vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Cuba vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Cuba vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Cuba vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Cuba vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Cuba vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Cuba vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Cuba vs Switzerland 
Cuba vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Cuba vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Cuba vs Sweden 
Cuba vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Cuba vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or United Arab Emirates?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In the United Arab Emirates, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD) in the United Arab Emirates. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 26765% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba 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 Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Cuba and United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cuba 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.