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Key Facts: United Arab Emirates vs Syria Wages

United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 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 / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-05-04

United Arab Emirates flag United Arab Emirates

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

AED16,000 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Avg. salary: +3527% United Arab Emirates vs Syria

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

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

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between United Arab Emirates and Syria
Metric United Arab Emirates Syria
Minimum wage /mo None £S1,850 $16.46
Avg. gross salary /mo AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
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).

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.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

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

Both United Arab Emirates and Syria 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 United Arab Emirates and Syria?

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 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.