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Key Facts: United Arab Emirates vs Guinea-Bissau Wages

United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 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), ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04)

United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates Guinea-Bissau flag Guinea-Bissau

Updated 2026-05-04

United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

AED16,000 /mo

Guinea-Bissau flag Guinea-Bissau

Minimum Wage

CFA19,030 /mo

$34.17 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA95,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +2454% United Arab Emirates vs Guinea-Bissau

The United Arab Emirates has no statutory minimum wage, while Guinea-Bissau sets a floor of $34/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates versus $171/mo in Guinea-Bissau, a 25.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in United Arab Emirates is 25.4x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.

The United Arab Emirates has higher GDP per capita ($79,229 vs $3,119). The United Arab Emirates' unemployment rate is 2.2% compared to Guinea-Bissau's 2.7%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between United Arab Emirates and Guinea-Bissau
Metric United Arab Emirates Guinea-Bissau
Minimum wage /day None CFA761 $1.37
Minimum wage /mo None CFA19,030 $34.17
Avg. gross salary /mo AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 CFA95,000 /mo $170.56
Avg. net salary /mo AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr AED120,000 /yr $32,675.29 N/A/yr

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).

Guinea-Bissau

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. Overtime provisions apply to formal employment. Portuguese is the official language; labour law reflects Lusophone and OHADA traditions.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: the United Arab Emirates mandates 48 hours while Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours.

See this comparison from Guinea-Bissau's perspective: Guinea-Bissau vs United Arab Emirates

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in United Arab Emirates or Guinea-Bissau?

In the United Arab Emirates, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Guinea-Bissau, it is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD).

How much more does the average worker earn in United Arab Emirates compared to Guinea-Bissau?

The average gross salary in the United Arab Emirates is AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD), compared to CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD) in Guinea-Bissau. In USD terms, workers in the United Arab Emirates earn approximately 2454% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between United Arab Emirates and Guinea-Bissau 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 Guinea-Bissau.

How do work hours compare between United Arab Emirates and Guinea-Bissau?

United Arab Emirates has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea-Bissau. 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 Guinea-Bissau 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 United Arab Emirates and Guinea-Bissau?

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 25.4x that of Guinea-Bissau at $3,119. From the United Arab Emirates' 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.