What Is the Average Salary in Dubai for Software Engineer?

By Michael Ferguson

Dubai is known for its luxurious lifestyle and a booming economy. The city offers various job opportunities for professionals from all around the world.

One of the most sought-after professions in Dubai is software engineering. If you are planning to move to Dubai as a software engineer, you might be wondering about the average salary that you can expect to earn. In this article, we will discuss the average salary in Dubai for software engineers.

What Is Software Engineering?

Before we dive into the topic of salaries, let’s first understand what software engineering is. Software engineering is a field of computer science that deals with developing, designing, testing, and maintaining software applications. Software engineers use programming languages like Java, Python, and C++ to create functional applications that meet specific requirements.

What Is the Average Salary in Dubai for Software Engineers?

According to recent surveys by salaryexplorer.com and payscale.com, the average salary for a software engineer in Dubai ranges from AED 97,800 to AED 342,000 per year (approximately USD 26,600 to USD 93,000). However, this figure can vary depending on factors like experience level, education qualifications, company size, and industry.

Experience Level

If you are an entry-level software engineer with less than two years of experience, you can expect an average salary of AED 72,000 per year (approximately USD 19,600). On the other hand, if you have more than five years of experience as a software engineer in Dubai or any other country with similar job markets like Abu Dhabi or Doha; your average annual salary could be around AED 240000 (approximately USD 65k).

Education Qualifications

Educational qualifications play a significant role in determining your salary as a software engineer. Holding an advanced degree like a Master’s or Ph.D. in computer science or software engineering can increase your earning potential. According to surveys, software engineers with a Master’s degree earn an average salary of AED 216,000 (approximately USD 58,800), while those with only a Bachelor’s degree earn an average salary of AED 156,000 (approximately USD 42,500).

Company Size and Industry

The size of the company you work for and the industry it belongs to can also influence your salary as a software engineer. For instance, according to surveys, software engineers working in the finance and banking sector tend to earn higher salaries than those working in the healthcare sector.

  • Small-sized companies with less than 50 employees offer an average salary of AED 120,000 (approximately USD 32,700) per year.
  • Medium-sized companies with 50-500 employees offer an average salary of AED 180,000 (approximately USD 49,000) per year.
  • Large-sized companies with more than 500 employees offer an average salary of AED 300,000 (approximately USD 81,700) per year.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dubai offers lucrative opportunities for software engineers looking for work. The average salary for a software engineer in Dubai ranges from AED 97,800 to AED 342,000 per year (approximately USD26k – USD93k).

Factors like experience level, education qualifications and company size can influence your earning potential. It’s important to research the company you’re applying to before accepting any job offers so that you can determine if they have competitive salaries that align with your expectations.