Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the country’s second-largest city, is one of the wealthiest cities in the world. It has a total GDP of AED 915 billion (US $268 billion) and a per capita GDP of approximately AED 352,608 (US $96,000).
As is the case for many economies across the globe, the job market is very hot right now. Lots of companies are hiring for high-paying positions, which is great news for job seekers and those who are looking to make career changes.
Are you currently looking for a job in Abu Dhabi? Are you wondering about the highest-paying jobs in Abu Dhabi? If so, keep reading.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about the best-paid jobs in Abu Dhabi, from the highest-paying careers to the top-paying jobs for fresh graduates. You’ll also learn about the kinds of degrees you’ll need to earn to qualify for these lucrative jobs.
What Salary Is Considered Rich in Abu Dhabi?
What qualifies as “rich” varies a lot from place to place and situation to situation. A salary that allows a single adult to live very comfortably might be just enough for a family of 4 to scrape by.
What does “rich” mean when you’re looking at one of the richest cities in the world, though?
To answer this question, we need to back up and talk about the average salary in Abu Dhabi.
The latest data shows that the average salary in Abu Dhabi is AED 314,883 per year. However, the most typical earning is only around AED 99,171.
Salaries differ here between men and women, too. Men earn an average annual salary of AED 337,916, whereas women earn an average salary of AED 212,667.
With this information in mind, it’s safe to say that a salary of over AED 100,000 would likely be considered comfortable or somewhat wealthy for a person living in Abu Dhabi. The closer one gets to earning more than AED 300,000 per year, though, the more likely they are to fall into the “rich” category.
It’s worth noting, too, that education and work experience both play important roles in determining a person’s income in Abu Dhabi, too.
Those with doctoral degrees earn an average salary of AED 412,111, and those with master’s degrees earn an average salary of AED 401,459. As for job experience, those with over 20 years of experience in their field earn an average salary of AED 500,630, and those with 16-20 years of experience earn an average salary of AED 472,348.
As is the case in many parts of the world, the more experience and training you have, the more opportunities you have to earn a good living and generate wealth.
What Is the Highest-Paid Job in Abu Dhabi?
Now that you have a better understanding of the average salary in Abu Dhabi and what wealth looks like in this city, let’s get more specific at talk about the best-paid jobs in Abu Dhabi.
The number 1 highest-paid job in Abu Dhabi is a contract manager. Contract managers work with various businesses and are responsible for contract administration, consolidation, and creation. They also work with various employees to ensure contracts are negotiated and executed as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Contract managers must at least have a bachelor’s degree, but many of them go on to earn master’s or doctoral degrees in business management or related fields.
The average annual salary for a contract manager is AED 623,309, which is almost double the average salary and over 6 times that median salary in Abu Dhabi.
What Are The Highest Paying Jobs in Abu Dhabi?
20. Healthcare Manager: Average Salary AED 232,133 Per Year
19. Systems Analyst: Average Salary AED 238,378 Per Year
18. Insurance Underwriter: Average Salary AED 243,152 Per Year
17. Software Developer: Average Salary AED 244,989 Per Year
16. IT Coordinator: Average Salary AED 256,375 Per Year
15. Security Specialist: Average Salary AED 290,167 Per Year
14. Civil Engineer: Average Salary AED 309,634 Per Year
13. Big Construction Architect: Average Salary AED 403,296 Per Year
12. Sales Manager: Average Salary AED 408,438 Per Year
11. Construction Manager: Average Salary AED 419,824 Per Year
10. Engineering Manager: Average Salary AED 424,599 Per Year
9. Project Manager: Average Salary AED 445,902 Per Year
8. Human Resources Manager: Average Salary AED 467,573 Per Year
7. Bank Manager: Average Salary AED 485,938 Per Year
6. IT Manager: Average Salary AED 509,813 Per Year
5. General Manager: Average Salary AED 515,322 Per Year
4. Product Manager: Average Salary AED 532,953 Per Year
3. Finance Manager: Average Salary AED 549,481 Per Year
2. Operations Manager: Average Salary AED 566,010 Per Year
1. Contract Manager: Average Salary AED 623,309 Per Year
Top 5 Highest-Paying Industries in Abu Dhabi
In addition to understanding the highest-paying jobs in this city, it’s also good to be aware of the highest-paying industries in Abu Dhabi. The following are some of the most profitable industries in which you may want to consider pursuing a career:
The arts, culture, and performance industry is one of the highest-paying industries in Abu Dhabi, with average earnings of AED 999,792. Artists, musicians, and other types of performers tend to earn higher than average salaries, and Abu Dhabi’s artists are no exception to this rule.
Top 3 Job Titles
- Musician/Singer
- Actor/Actress
- Artist
Job Prospects: Yes, there is the potential to earn a very good living as an entertainer or performer in Abu Dhabi. However, this is also one of the most competitive industries in the city (and the country and the world).
It takes a lot of work and a lot of luck to make it big. This is why performer isn’t listed as the number 1 highest-paying job in Abu Dhabi. It may technically be the case, but it’s not a realistic career for the average person to pursue.
Your job prospects in the arts, culture and performance industry might not be particularly promising. However, if this is a field about which you’re truly passionate, don’t let low odds stop you from chasing your dream.
The media is another high-paying industry in Abu Dhabi. The average salary for this industry is AED 520,097. The news and reporting field features many high-paying jobs, especially for those who have worked in the industry for a long time and have a higher level of education.
Top 3 Job Titles
- News Reporter/Broadcaster
- Editor
- Journalist
Job Prospects: The media industry is booming in Abu Dhabi and throughout the UAE right now. There’s a big demand for experienced professionals who understand the ins and outs of journalism (both broadcast journalism and written journalism). If you have experience in these fields and want to work in an exciting, fast-growing city, there are plenty of opportunities to be had in Abu Dhabi.
The aviation and shipping industry is also a very high-paying industry, which makes sense when you consider how important aviation, travel, and product shipping are to the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s economy. Average earnings currently sit at AED 517,155.
Top 3 Job Titles
- Pilot
- Airport Manager
- Aerospace Engineer
Job Prospects: The aviation and shipping industry is another booming industry with lots of job openings. Most careers in this field require a high level of education and experience, so they’re not for the faint of heart. If you’re willing to put the time and effort in, though, you could have a very well-paid career ahead of you.
As you saw from the list of high-paying jobs in the previous section, the management and business sector is a high-paying industry in Abu Dhabi. The average earnings for those who work in managerial or business fields are AED 475,654 per year.
Top 3 Job Titles
- Contract Manager
- Operations Manager
- Finance Manager
Job Prospects: Abu Dhabi (and the UAE in general) is a major business hub, and there are lots of opportunities to work in high-powered, high-paying management positions here.
If you want to work in the business world and learn from some of the greatest business minds, you’ll have plenty of chances to do so in Abu Dhabi. Prospects look very good for employees in this field, both now and in the future as Abu Dhabi continues to grow and thrive.
Last on the list of the highest-paying industries in Abu Dhabi is the engineering and technical industry. This industry is rapidly growing, and the average salary is AED 447,717 per year. There are lots of high-paying jobs available for skilled professionals in these fields, too.
Top 3 Job Titles
- Engineering Manager
- Civil Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
Job Prospects: The engineering industry is another example of a high-paying industry that has very good job prospects. There is and likely always will be a demand for engineers and engineering managers of all kinds in Abu Dhabi, so you’ll find plenty of promising job opportunities once you graduate from school and start sending out applications.
Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in Abu Dhabi for Fresh Graduates
Some of the highest-paying jobs in Abu Dhabi are different for fresh university graduates than they are for seasoned professionals who have had time to establish themselves in their careers.
After all, many graduates have to begin their career in entry level positions or junior positions. With this fact in mind, it makes sense that it would take time for them to work their way up and start earning salaries like those listed earlier in the guide.
Are you a recent graduate, or are you planning on graduating in the next few years? If so, here are 5 of the best positions to consider:
A career as a biomedical engineer is one of the highest-paying jobs in Abu Dhabi for fresh graduates. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the healthcare industry in Abu Dhabi, and there’s a high demand for biomedical engineers and other medical professionals who can assist with testing, diagnostics, and more.
The average salary for a biomedical engineer in Abu Dhabi is AED 149,000 per year. To become a biomedical engineer, you’ll need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from an accredited university.
Some people become biomedical engineers after earning a more general engineering degree, but they typically have to take additional classes in subjects like biology, medical optics, and bionstrumentation.
The tech industry is booming in Abu Dhabi, too. Because of this, there’s a great demand for software engineers who can help businesses create high-quality software products and distribute them to clients and customers.
To become a software engineer, you’ll need to complete a training course in software development or a related field. A degree in information technology or a related field can also help you to land higher-ranking positions and experience pay raises.
The average salary for a software engineer in Abu Dhabi is AED 141,499. Over time, though, you can earn much more, especially if you get hired as a software engineer at a major tech company.
Another one of the highest-paying jobs in Abu Dhabi for fresh graduates is a career as a human resources specialist.
As you saw earlier in this guide, human resources managers are some of the highest earners in Abu Dhabi. To get to a management position, though, you first need to work as an HR specialist.
To work as a human resources specialist, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in human resources management or a related field.
The average salary for this job is AED 144,000. This isn’t a bad salary for a recent graduate, and there are opportunities to earn a lot more once you’ve gained a couple of years of on-the-job experience.
There is also a high demand for UI/UX (user interface/user experience) designers who can help companies create high-quality websites, apps, and software products for their clients and customers.
The average salary for a UI/UX designer in Abu Dhabi is AED 72,000 per year. With experience, though, you can eventually earn a lot more and get closer to or even exceed the average salary for workers in Abu Dhabi. This is especially true if you get hired by a tech company or another highly profitable business in Abu Dhabi or the UAE.
Civil engineers work on a variety of projects, including the design and construction of bridges, roads, airports, dams, and more.
To become a civil engineer, you’ll need to earn at least a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from an accredited university. Going on to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree could help you to qualify for higher-paying and more prestigious, competitive positions, though.
The average salary for a new civil engineer is AED 62,000 per year. However, you can earn a lot more than this with time and experience, especially when you move into management positions.
What Degree Pays Most in Abu Dhabi?
If you’re a student interested in learning about the highest-paying jobs in Abu Dhabi, it’s important to take a step back and think about which degree will produce the best results.
Broken down in the table below are 5 different degree types that come with high potential salaries. If you want to earn as much money as possible after you finish school, one of these degrees would be a good choice to pursue:
Degree Type | Potential Salary |
Business Management | AED 623,309 Per Year |
Finance | AED 549,481 Per Year |
Information Technology | AED 509,813 Per Year |
Human Resources | AED 467,573 Per Year |
Engineering | AED 424,599 Per Year |
It’s important to note that these salaries are just estimates. You can earn a lot more or a lot less with one of these degrees depending on the specific career path you choose and the employer that hires you. These numbers are just meant to help you start narrowing down your options and choose a degree that will set you up for a higher-than-average earning potential once you graduate.
Start Searching for the Highest-Paying Jobs in Abu Dhabi
If you’ve been wondering about the highest-paying jobs in Abu Dhabi, you now have a lot more information to work with. Keep these details about the best-paid jobs in Abu Dhabi, as well as the best degrees to pursue, so you can start planning your future and setting yourself up for long-term earning potential.
If you want to learn more about how you can increase your skillset and increase your chances of getting hired, check out the GrabJobs career resource library today. We’ve got lots of guides to help you improve your resume, make a good impression at interviews, and more.
