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Key Facts: Guyana vs United Arab Emirates Wages

Guyana Minimum Wage
G$347/hr ($1.66 USD)
United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Guyana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
G$100,000 /mo ($477.90 USD)
United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Labour — Guyana (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)

Guyana flag Guyana United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates

Updated 2026-05-04

Guyana flag Guyana

Minimum Wage

G$347 /hr

$1.66 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

G$100,000 /mo

United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

AED16,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -89% Guyana vs United Arab Emirates

Unlike the United Arab Emirates, which has no statutory minimum wage, Guyana mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $478/mo in Guyana versus $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates, a 9.1:1 ratio. United Arab Emirates has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.2% compared to 12.0%.

Guyana has higher GDP per capita ($80,155 vs $79,229). Guyana's unemployment rate is 12.0% compared to the United Arab Emirates' 2.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Guyana and United Arab Emirates
Metric Guyana United Arab Emirates
Minimum wage /hr G$347 $1.66 None
Minimum wage /mo G$60,147 $287.44 None
Avg. gross salary /mo G$100,000 /mo $477.90 AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71
Avg. net salary /mo G$80,000 /mo $382.32 AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71
Median individual income /yr G$600,000 /yr $2,867.38 AED120,000 /yr $32,675.29

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guyana is higher.

Work Week

Guyana

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate on weekdays and 2x on public holidays. Governed by the Labour Act. Some sectors (sugar, mining) may have different arrangements through collective agreements.

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: Guyana mandates 40 hours while the United Arab Emirates mandates 48 hours.

See this comparison from United Arab Emirates's perspective: United Arab Emirates vs Guyana

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Guyana or United Arab Emirates?

In Guyana, the minimum wage is G$347/hr ($1.66 USD). In the United Arab Emirates, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much less does the average worker earn in Guyana compared to United Arab Emirates?

The average gross salary in Guyana is G$100,000/mo ($477.90 USD), compared to AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD) in the United Arab Emirates. In USD terms, workers in Guyana earn approximately 812% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guyana 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 Guyana.

How do work hours compare between Guyana and United Arab Emirates?

United Arab Emirates has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guyana. Workers in Guyana work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guyana 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 Guyana 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. Guyana has the higher GDP per capita at $80,155, which is 1.0x that of United Arab Emirates at $79,229. From Guyana's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.