Key Facts: Gabon vs United Arab Emirates Wages
- Gabon Minimum Wage
- FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Gabon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA555,000 /mo ($996.41 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Employment and Vocational Training / Labour Code of Gabon (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)
Gabon
United Arab Emirates
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike the United Arab Emirates, which has no statutory minimum wage, Gabon mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $996/mo in Gabon versus $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates, a 4.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in United Arab Emirates is 3.7x that of Gabon, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Gabon has lower GDP per capita ($21,510 vs $79,229). Gabon's unemployment rate is 20.1% compared to the United Arab Emirates' 2.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Gabon | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FCFA865.38 $1.55 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA150,000 $269.30 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | FCFA1,800,000 $3,231.60 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA555,000 /mo $996.41 | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FCFA430,000 /mo $771.99 | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 |
| Median individual income /yr | FCFA2,400,000 /yr $4,308.80 | AED120,000 /yr $32,675.29 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Gabon is higher.
Work Week
- Gabon
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 60 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime capped at 20 hours/week, permitted only for exceptional, urgent, or seasonal work. Weekday overtime at 125% of normal rate; Sundays/public holidays at 150-200%. Employees entitled to 10 consecutive hours of daily rest and one full day of weekly rest (usually Sunday). Governed by the Labour Code (Code du Travail).
- 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: Gabon mandates 40 hours while the United Arab Emirates mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from United Arab Emirates's perspective: United Arab Emirates vs Gabon
Compare Gabon with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Gabon or United Arab Emirates?
In Gabon, the minimum wage is FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD). In the United Arab Emirates, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Gabon compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average gross salary in Gabon is FCFA555,000/mo ($996.41 USD), compared to AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD) in the United Arab Emirates. In USD terms, workers in Gabon earn approximately 337% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Gabon 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 Gabon.
How do work hours compare between Gabon and United Arab Emirates?
United Arab Emirates has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Gabon. Workers in Gabon work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Gabon 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Gabon and United Arab Emirates?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. United Arab Emirates has the higher GDP per capita at $79,229, which is 3.7x that of Gabon at $21,510. From Gabon's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.