Key Facts: Yemen vs United Arab Emirates Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- United Arab Emirates Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- AED16,000 /mo ($4,356.71 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (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)
Yemen 
United Arab Emirates
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike the United Arab Emirates, which has no statutory minimum wage, Yemen mandates a wage floor of $88/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $356/mo in Yemen versus $4,357/mo in the United Arab Emirates, a 12.2:1 ratio. United Arab Emirates has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.2% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to the United Arab Emirates' 2.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | AED16,000 /mo $4,356.71 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | 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 Yemen is higher.
Work Week
- Yemen
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 48 hours/week. Thursday–Friday is the traditional weekend. Normal labour law enforcement has effectively ceased. Informal employment — petty trade, agriculture, and subsistence activities — dominates the economy.
- 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 Yemen
Compare Yemen with...
Yemen vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Yemen vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Yemen vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Yemen vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Yemen vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Yemen vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Yemen vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Yemen vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Yemen vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Yemen vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Yemen vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Yemen vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Yemen vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Yemen vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Yemen vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Yemen vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Yemen vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Yemen vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Yemen vs Switzerland 
Yemen vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Yemen vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Yemen vs Sweden 
Yemen vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Yemen vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or United Arab Emirates?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In the United Arab Emirates, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Yemen compared to United Arab Emirates?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to AED16,000/mo ($4,356.71 USD) in the United Arab Emirates. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 1122% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen 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 Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Yemen and United Arab Emirates?
Both Yemen 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.