Key Facts: United Arab Emirates vs South Sudan Wages
- United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 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), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
United Arab Emirates 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-04
The United Arab Emirates has no statutory minimum wage, while South Sudan sets a floor of $2/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 160.0:1 ratio. United Arab Emirates has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.2% compared to 12.4%.
The United Arab Emirates' unemployment rate is 2.2% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | United Arab Emirates | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| 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).
- South Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets 40 hours/week as standard. Enforcement is effectively non-existent across most of the country due to ongoing conflict, institutional collapse, and absence of functioning labour inspectorates.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: the United Arab Emirates mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs United Arab Emirates
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United Arab Emirates vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in United Arab Emirates or South Sudan?
In the United Arab Emirates, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in United Arab Emirates compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in the United Arab Emirates is AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in the United Arab Emirates earn approximately 15901% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between United Arab Emirates and South Sudan 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 South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between United Arab Emirates and South Sudan?
United Arab Emirates has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. 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 South Sudan 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.