Software Engineer Salaries in Dubai, UAE - An Ultimate Guide

The best way to discover your personal software engineer salary in Dubai is with our free tool.

However, if you want a deep dive into all things software developer salaries and averages in Dubai, read on!

The Dubai salary for a software engineer is confusing. Sites such as Levels.fyi, Glassdoor and Payscale quote all kinds of figures, making it hard to know what to believe.

This guide has a different approach. It looks at the average salary in Dubai for a software engineer in a completely new way.

I compiled it to help tech professionals like you understand the United Arab Emirates' salary landscape.

This is the last Dubai software engineer salary guide you'll ever need.

By the end of this article, you'll walk away knowing the real software developer salary in Dubai.

Furthermore, you'll understand the different types of companies in Dubai and the different monthly salary at each.

In this article: 📝

• The Quick Answer
• What Most Salary Guides Get Wrong
• Understanding Dubai's Company Types
• Why Averaging Salaries Doesn’t Work
• A Better Way: Average Salaries by Company Type
• Discovering the Real Dubai Software Engineering Salary
• Our Result: The Software Engineer Salary You Can Actually Expect in Dubai
  • Top Company Salaries for Dubai 2024
  • Budget Company Salaries for Dubai 2024
• An Even Clearer Picture: Join The Tech Worker's Salary Survey
• Factors That Influence Software Engineer Pay in Dubai
• Trends and Demands in the Software Developer Job Market in Dubai
• Benefits and Perks for Software Engineers in Dubai
• Tips for Negotiating a Higher Salary as a Software Developer in Dubai
• Dubai is a Great Option

The Quick Answer

The average salary for a software engineer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is $114,000 USD per year (AED 420,000). At top Dubai companies the average yearly pay range for a software developer is $38,000–$204,000 (AED 140,000–AED 750,000).

The average monthly salary for a software engineer in Dubai is $9,500 (AED 35,000). With a monthly pay range of $3,200–$17,000 (AED 11,700–AED 62,500) at a top company in Dubai.

This is the quick answer.

I also have a Dubai Software Engineer Salary and Cost of Living Calculator, if you're looking for a more personalised value.

Note, the average salary of $114,000 is for a senior software engineer with more than 5 years professional experience, who is working at a top company in UAE. I explain more about what a top company is below.

To really understand the average wage in Dubai. particularly how pay varies for juniors, mid-level, senior staff and managers, I strongly recommend reading the rest of this article.

I also share wages at different kinds of company in Dubai and explain my calculation.

If you really want to understand salaries in Dubai, read on!

What Most Salary Guides Get Wrong

Many websites already tried and failed to calculate the average salary in Dubai for a software engineer.

Online salary data for Dubai is incredibly misleading. We regularly see ridiculous yearly pay scales for software engineers.

For example, at Payscale, we observe that senior software engineer salaries in Dubai range from 8,447 USD (AED 31,000) to 113,352 USD (AED 416,000). The highest salary is more than ten times that of the lowest salary.

How can two people at the same level in the same industry, possess such different salaries?

The truth is that there are two completely different types of tech company in Dubai.

Each kind of tech company has a wage structure and work conditions that are totally distinct.

Other salary guides fail to recognise this. They look at software engineer in dubai salaries as one large pool of data.

This results in confusing data. Data that tells us nothing meaningful about the average software developer salary in dubai.

For a clear picture of software engineer pay in Dubai, we instead need to understand the company types.

Understanding Dubai's Company Types

We can divide the kinds of company in Dubai into two main classes:

Top Companies

Top companies make high quality high cost products. They need skilled employees and pay excellent wages to attract the best talent from around the world.

In Dubai these can be large, world famous companies like, Microsoft, Oracle or Amazon. They can also be startups with a leading local technology product like Talabat, Careem or Noon. Well funded, smaller companies in the crypto or the AI space also fit this description.

Budget Companies

Budget companies invest less in their technology product. They try to work with smaller budgets and pay their employees less, often relying on less experienced or less skilled labour.

In Dubai these companies tend to be agencies, small-scale consultancies and startups with less funding. We also find budget companies in industries which are not software centric, such as construction and real estate.

Why Averaging Salaries Doesn’t Work

Other guides average together the salaries from Top Companies and Budget Companies. The result is numbers that don't represent either company type.

The graph below shows what happens when you average together salaries from Dubai's two types of company.

When we combine the company types, we see only a few salaries at the average. Meanwhile, the range of salaries reported is extreme. In other words, these numbers don't represent the actual salaries well at all.

This makes it impossible to understand what a software engineer salary in UAE usually looks like.

A Better Way: Average Salaries by Company Type

By looking at salaries by company type, we get a much clearer picture of wages in Dubai.

First, we separate out Top Companies from Budget Companies. Then we average the salaries for each type.

When we take this approach, we get a meaningful average salary for each. We also get a narrow range of wages for each company type that is believable.

In other words, this information gives a realistic picture of what salaries for software engineers in Dubai look like.

Discovering the Real Dubai Software Engineering Salary

We can use other websites' salary ranges to unearth what the real average wage in Dubai looks like.

Glassdoor, Salary Expert and Gulf Talent work with different types of companies. For example, Gulf Talent works with a lot of Budget Companies. Whilst Salary Expert works with lots of Top Companies.

By looking at how their salary estimates change, we can estimate the Top Company and Budget Company salary ranges.

Levels.fyi: More Top Company Salaries

Levels.fyi is a great resource for comparing tech salaries worldwide.

A lot of their data comes from tech workers at well funded startups and well-known companies. We also see some salaries from Budget Companies, but a lot less.

We can see their median salary for software engineers in Dubai below. We see fairly high averages across the board.

We can also see companies in Dubai with wages similar to other global tech hubs.

For example, an L3 position at Stripe offers a total pay package of $362,296 USD (AED 1,329,626).

We also see a string of companies with salaries of more than ($160,000 USD / AED 587,200). These wages are all at well known top companies; Amazon, Talabat, Careem, Binance, Revolut and Noon.

We also find evidence for Budget companies. For example, a mid level position at local HR company Bayzat offering just $18,015 USD (AED 66,114 AED).

This is $70,000 USD less than Levels.fyi's calculated average. A strong indicator that this salary is an outlier and doesn't come from the same type of company.

Glassdoor: A Mix of Top and Budget Companies

Glassdoor has data from both types of company.

We see an extremely broad software developer salary range of $22,889 USD(AED 84,000) to $323,706 USD (AED 1,188,000)

This is just what we would expect if there was a mix of Top and Budget companies.

Looking closer at the actual company by company data shows both types of company to be present.

For example Top Company Talabat has software developer salaries ranging from $76,000 USD to $135,000 USD per year. A median salary of roughly $101,000 USD per year.

Similarly for Careem, we see salaries for senior software engineers listed from $105,000 USD to $163,000 USD per year.

At world-renowned company Amazon, mid-level software engineerse have salaries in the $67,000 USD to $100,000 USD range. While seniors, such as engineering managers have salaries in excess of $190,000 USD.

We also find plenty of Budget Companies offering salaries in the low $20,000 range. For example, we see Bayzat with a median salary for a software engineer of under $18,000 USD per year (65,856 AED).

Salary Expert: Mostly Top Companies

Salary Expert sources their salary data from Top Companies using internal and third-party surveys. As such, we expect to see higher salaries.

Salary Expert estimates that the total average software engineer salary in Dubai is $96,237 USD (AED 353,189). This is regardless of seniority.

By looking at this data, we get a good idea of what the Top Company salary range looks like.

Gulf Talent: Mostly Budget Companies

Gulf Talent is a job site that lists all manner of jobs in the Gulf states, from childcare to petroleum engineering.

When we look at their software engineers listings we see jobs mostly from Budget Companies. We therefore expect to see lower salaries.

For software engineers Gulf Talent reports the average salary to be just under $23,000 USD per year (AED 84,000).

For senior developers the average is $44,141 USD (AED 162,000).

For junior developers they report an average of $21,254 USD (AED 78,000).

By looking at this data, we get a good idea of what the Budget Company salary range looks like.

Payscale: A Mix of Top and Budget Companies

Payscale create their salary guide using 3rd party data, including government reports and industry data. We therefore expect to see both types of company well represented.

Again, as with Glassdoor, we see an incredibly broad salary range.

80% of the salary data falling between $8,447 USD (AED 31,000) and $111,717 USD (AED 410,000).

Just what we expect from a mix of Top and Budget companies.

Our Result: The Software Engineer Salary You Can Actually Expect in Dubai

By looking at how the salaries change between our sources, I've created my personal salary estimates.

Rather, than sharing one average, I share averages for each type of company. I also share averages for four different levels of seniority.

Top Company Salaries for Dubai 2024:

Junior Software Engineer:
$38,000 - $49,000 USD per year (AED 140,000 - AED 180,000)

Mid-Level Software Engineer:
$60,000 - $85,000 USD per year (AED 220,000 - AED 310,000)

Senior Software Engineer:
$91,000 - $136,000 USD per year (AED 330,000 - AED 500,000)

Engineering Manager:
$125,000 - $204,000 USD per year (AED 460,000 - AED 750,000)

Budget Company Salaries for Dubai 2024:

Junior Software Engineer:
$9,500 - $19,000 USD (AED 35,000 - AED 70,000)

Mid-Level Software Engineer:
$17,700 - $32,700 USD (AED 65,000 - AED 120,000)

Senior Software Engineer:
$35,400 - $49,000 USD (AED 130,000 - AED 180,000)

Engineering Manager:
$49,000 - $68,000 USD (AED 180,000 - AED 250,000)

An Even Clearer Picture: Join The Tech Worker's Salary Survey

Our salary ranges are a great starting point for understanding what you could earn in Dubai.

We want to make an even more accurate picture of the tech landscape in the UAE.

That's why we've started a tech worker's salary survey so we can bring you even more accurate data.

Click here to read more about our survey and how you can help.

Factors That Influence Software Engineer Pay in Dubai

Our salary estimates are based on averages, but the actual pay you can earn as a software engineer in Dubai depends on a variety of factors. Since Dubai is a tax-free zone, every dollar you earn goes straight to your pocket, but high living costs can reduce your effective take-home pay. Below are the main factors that could see you earn more (or less) than the typical software developer salary in Dubai:

• Education and Certifications
  Engineers with advanced degrees like an MSc or PhD in computer science, or those with specialized certifications (e.g., AWS, GCP) will see a higher starting pay. Being certified in niche areas like cybersecurity or DevOps can add a premium of 10-20% to your base salary.

• Years of Experience
  As in most countries, experience levels are one of the biggest factors. Junior engineers with < 3 years might earn half the salary of senior software engineers. Those with 10+ years and a history of leading projects can command packages over $200,000 USD per year.

• Technical Skill Set
  Mastery of in-demand technologies can push salaries to the upper range. Key skills in demand include AI/ML, blockchain, and cloud architecture. Engineers with expertise in multiple languages (Python, Rust, and C++) or who can lead DevOps transformations are often able to negotiate 30% more than peers. I have an article all about the essential skills you need as a software engineer if you'd like to learn more.

• Type of Employer
  There is a stark difference between multinational firms like Microsoft, and local agencies focused on low-budget projects. Top-tier firms pay double or triple compared to smaller companies, especially for senior positions. For example, a senior software engineer at Google could earn $120,000 USD, while an equivalent role at a local firm might only offer $50,000 USD.

• Industry Specialization
  Working in finance, healthcare, or a tech-heavy startup typically results in a premium of 15-25%. Engineers building mission-critical software for fintech or AI-driven analytics in healthcare can charge significantly more, especially if they have industry-specific knowledge.

• Perks and Allowances
  Additionally, many firms offer perks like housing allowances or transport benefits, which can significantly impact your net income.

Understanding these factors can help you position yourself to earn at the top of the scale and ensure you’re comparing offers on a like-for-like basis, whether you’re looking at a Dubai salary for engineers or a software developer’s compensation package.

Trends and Demands in the Software Developer Job Market in Dubai

Understanding the factors that influence salaries is only part of the picture. To see why certain skills and roles are commanding a premium in Dubai, we need to look at the latest trends shaping the software engineering job market.

Dubai’s tech scene has been undergoing rapid growth, with new opportunities emerging across various sectors. However, to land a top-paying role, engineers need more than just coding skills. Below are some of the key trends driving demand in Dubai’s software developer job market:

• Specialized Skills are in High Demand
  There’s a significant push for engineers skilled in AI/ML, cybersecurity, cloud architecture, and data science. Companies in Dubai are racing to adopt new technologies, and software developers with expertise in these areas can command premiums of 20-30% above standard salaries.

• Startup Boom and High-Risk, High-Reward Opportunities
  Dubai’s tech startup ecosystem has exploded in recent years, driven by government initiatives and investor interest. Engineers joining startups can expect high-risk, high-reward packages—lower base salaries but equity, profit-sharing, or bonuses tied to the company’s growth.

• Agile and DevOps Adoption Across Sectors
  Major players and startups alike are shifting to agile and DevOps practices to stay competitive. Engineers who are comfortable with CI/CD pipelines and agile methodologies are highly sought after, particularly for roles that require rapid iteration and complex deployments.

• Mobile and Web Development Driving Digital Transformation
  With the surge of e-commerce, fintech, and on-demand services, developers specializing in mobile apps and progressive web apps are in high demand. Companies are looking for engineers who can deliver seamless cross-platform experiences, as these industries lead the digital transformation charge in Dubai.

• Multilingual Teams and Cultural Fit
  Dubai’s diverse workforce requires engineers who can collaborate effectively across different cultures. While English is essential, fluency in Arabic or other regional languages is a plus and can be a deciding factor for leadership roles.

These trends reflect the evolving demands of Dubai’s tech market. For software engineers and developers looking to maximize their salary, focusing on these skills and aligning with industry trends will make you a standout candidate.

Benefits and Perks for Software Engineers in Dubai

While salaries are a crucial consideration, the benefits and perks offered by companies in Dubai can make a huge difference in overall compensation and job satisfaction. These perks are often designed to attract top talent and offset the higher living costs associated with the city. Here’s a closer look at the common benefits provided to software developers in Dubai:

• Housing Allowance
  Rent in Dubai can be a significant expense, with top-tier locations demanding high monthly payments. Many employers offer housing allowances that can cover up to 40% of rent costs, helping engineers maintain a comfortable lifestyle without sacrificing too much of their base salary.

• Transport Benefits
  Given the cost and complexity of commuting in Dubai, it’s not uncommon for companies to provide a car allowance or even a company car. Public transport subsidies and paid parking are also standard perks to consider when evaluating a job offer.

• Comprehensive Healthcare Packages
  Health insurance is a mandatory benefit in Dubai, but the level of coverage varies widely. Top employers typically offer comprehensive healthcare packages, covering not just medical, but also dental and vision care, often extending these benefits to dependents as well.

• Annual Performance Bonuses and Profit-Sharing
  To remain competitive, many companies offer annual performance-based bonuses or profit-sharing arrangements. These bonuses can range from 10% to 30% of the base salary, depending on the company’s profitability and your role.

• Retirement and Pension Plans
  While Dubai does not have a state-sponsored pension system, many multinational firms offer private retirement plans with contributions that increase based on tenure. For long-term employees, this can be a major addition to overall compensation.

• Professional Development and Education Support
  With a focus on staying competitive, employers often support professional growth by covering certification costs, providing access to industry events, and sponsoring technical workshops.

• Relocation and Visa Assistance
  For expats relocating to Dubai, visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are standard. This includes covering travel expenses, assistance in finding accommodation, and sometimes even schooling support for children.

• Flexible Work Arrangements
  Although still evolving, some companies are beginning to offer remote work options or flexible schedules. This perk is more common in tech startups and progressive multinationals looking to attract international talent.

These benefits, alongside Dubai’s tax-free salaries, can significantly enhance your total compensation package and improve your quality of life, making Dubai an attractive destination for software engineers looking to maximize their earnings.

Tips for Negotiating a Higher Salary as a Software Developer in Dubai

Securing the right salary isn’t just about knowing your worth—it’s about how well you can articulate that value to potential employers. With Dubai’s tech market booming and a high cost of living to account for, it’s essential to approach negotiations strategically. Here’s how to make sure you’re getting the best offer possible:

• Research, Research, Research
  Before stepping into any negotiation, you need hard data. Look at current salary benchmarks for software engineers and developers with your specific skills, experience, and industry focus in Dubai. This salary guide and other guides like Levels.fyi and Glassdoor are good starting points, but also consider talking with locals and members of the Dubai tech community to get the most accurate numbers.

• Emphasize High-Demand Skills
  If you’re proficient in emerging technologies like machine learning, cloud architecture, or DevOps, make these skills your focal point. In Dubai, these competencies are particularly valuable and can add a 15-30% premium to your base salary.

• Consider the Full Compensation Package
  While base salary is critical, don’t overlook the extras. Benefits like housing allowances, transportation stipends, bonuses, and education support can make a substantial difference. Bring up these elements in negotiations and compare offers holistically.

• Leverage Offers and Alternatives
  If you have competing offers or are currently employed, don’t be afraid to mention it. Employers are more likely to meet your demands if they see you’re in high demand elsewhere.

• Time Your Negotiation Right
  Timing is everything. The best moments to negotiate are either during the initial job offer or during a performance review, when the company is most receptive to re-evaluating your value.

• Frame the Discussion Around the Market and Value
  Avoid phrases like “I need” or “I want.” Instead, reference market data and explain why your skill set and experience justify the higher salary. For example: “Based on current industry standards for software developers with expertise in DevOps and cloud systems, a salary of $120,000 would be more aligned with the value I can deliver.”

By using these strategies, you can position yourself to not only secure a competitive salary but also negotiate for perks that make a significant impact on your quality of life in Dubai.

Dubai is a Great Option

This article and our estimates show that it's possible to earn great money in Dubai.

Does Dubai pay as well as Silicon Valley? Definitely not, but with income tax-free living possible for most of us and cheaper living costs, it’s a great option for many.

The key thing is being selective about where you work.

Ultimately, finding a job as a software developer in Dubai at a Top Company should be your priority.

Check out our guide for finding a job as a software engineer with one of Dubai's Top Companies.

Or, click here to start your search right now for software engineering jobs in Dubai.