UAE Sets Minimum Salary of R19K: What South African Workers Need to Know

• The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced a minimum monthly salary for workers in all nine of its officially recognised professional levels
• The classification system covers a wide range of roles, from legislators and executives down to entry-level and agricultural workers
• The announcement has implications for South Africans working in the UAE or considering opportunities there

The United Arab Emirates has officially set a wage floor for workers across all nine of its recognised professional categories, a move that could directly affect South Africans employed in the Gulf state.

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) uses the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO), a framework developed by the International Labour Organisation, to group workers into nine distinct professional levels.

UAE's 9 professional job levels

The nine categories cover a broad spectrum of occupations. At the top sit legislators, managers and business executives, followed by professionals in scientific, technical and human fields, and then technicians in those same areas. The list continues with writing professionals, service and sales workers, and skilled workers in agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry. Rounding out the classification are craftsmen in construction and mining, machinery and equipment operators, and finally workers in simple professions.

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Minimum wage that applies to all levels

Regardless of which category a worker falls into, employers in the UAE are required to pay a minimum of AED 4,000 per month (R19, 000). For South Africans sending money home or tracking earnings in rand terms, that figure translates to a meaningful baseline income.

The ministry confirmed the classification system publicly, stating:

"Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) classifies workers into 9 professional levels according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organization."

The AED 4,000 (R19, 000) floor also ties into the UAE's residency requirements. Workers without employer-provided accommodation must earn at least that amount monthly to qualify for a residence permit. Those whose employers cover housing face a lower threshold of AED 3,000 (R13, 000).

For South Africans weighing job opportunities in the UAE, understanding where their occupation falls within this classification system could help them assess whether an offer meets the country's legal minimum and what residency options may be available to them.

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More Briefly News on salaries

• Boni Xaba left Mzansi stunned after reviewing an underground miner’s R95,000 payslip and questioning the deductions and possible tax evasion.
• A South African teacher pushed back against calls for a 50% salary cut, highlighting the heavy workload and pressures educators face.
• A Cape Town woman’s detailed R15,000 monthly budget left South Africans stunned, with many questioning how she manages her expenses.

Source: Briefly News