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Key Facts: Syria vs United Arab Emirates Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (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)

Syria flag Syria United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates

Updated 2026-05-04

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

AED16,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -97% Syria vs United Arab Emirates

Unlike the United Arab Emirates, which has no statutory minimum wage, Syria mandates a wage floor of $16/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates, a 36.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in United Arab Emirates is 16.6x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $79,229). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to the United Arab Emirates' 2.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and United Arab Emirates
Metric Syria United Arab Emirates
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 None
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr AED120,000 /yr $32,675.29

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

Work Week

Syria

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.

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).

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In the United Arab Emirates, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD) in the United Arab Emirates. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 3527% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria 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 Syria.

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

Both Syria and United Arab Emirates mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.

What is the cost of living difference between Syria 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 16.6x that of Syria at $4,772. From Syria'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.