Skip to main content

Key Facts: United Arab Emirates vs Aruba Wages

United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Aruba Minimum Wage
ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD)
United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
Aruba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
ƒ2,401.67 /mo ($1,341.72 USD)
Data Sources
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), Government of Aruba — Department of Labor and Research (2026-05-04)

United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates Aruba flag Aruba

Updated 2026-05-04

United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

AED16,000 /mo

Aruba flag Aruba

Minimum Wage

ƒ11.58 /hr

$6.47 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ƒ2,401.67 /mo

Avg. salary: +225% United Arab Emirates vs Aruba

The United Arab Emirates has no statutory minimum wage, while Aruba sets a floor of $6/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates versus $1,342/mo in Aruba, a 3.2:1 ratio.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between United Arab Emirates and Aruba
Metric United Arab Emirates Aruba
Minimum wage /hr None ƒ11.58 $6.47
Minimum wage /mo None ƒ2,007.20 $1,121.34
Minimum wage /yr None ƒ24,086.40 $13,456.09
Avg. gross salary /mo AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 ƒ2,401.67 /mo $1,341.72
Avg. net salary /mo AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr AED120,000 /yr $32,675.29 ƒ27,040 /yr $15,106.15

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means United Arab Emirates is higher.

Work 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).

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).

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: the United Arab Emirates mandates 48 hours while Aruba mandates 40 hours.

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

Compare United Arab Emirates with...

Frequently Asked Questions

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

In the United Arab Emirates, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Aruba, it is ƒ11.58/hr ($6.47 USD).

How much more does the average worker earn in United Arab Emirates compared to Aruba?

The average gross salary in the United Arab Emirates is AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD), compared to ƒ2,401.67/mo ($1,341.72 USD) in Aruba. In USD terms, workers in the United Arab Emirates earn approximately 225% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between United Arab Emirates and Aruba 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 United Arab Emirates and Aruba?

United Arab Emirates has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Aruba. Workers in the United Arab Emirates work 48 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.