Dubai Finance Salaries 2026: Big bucks, bigger competition

• Michael Page UAE just dropped its salary report, and yes, the paychecks are fat.
• CFOs, PE MDs, tax/legal heads… salaries that make your eyes pop.
• Here are UAE’s top-paying finance, banking, consulting, and legal roles.
• This is based on 10,000+ salaries and 80+ consultant insights at Michael Page UAE. 

What is happening?

The UAE’s financial and accounting sector is on a growth spree.

What’s fueling it?

• The tax, regulatory, and economic landscape is becoming increasingly complex.
• Rise in high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs)
• Investment across finance, technology, and clean energy
• UAE has crossed 1 million SMEs
• Fast-growing startups / fintechs

This is forcing companies to bring in senior finance leaders and multi-jurisdictional tax experts.

…But not without the knowledge of AI, digital transformation, and automation.

Top-paying finance roles

Finance

Group / Regional CFO

• SME: AED 70K-120K per month (Avg: AED 90K)
• MNC: AED 110K-200K per month (Avg: AED 150K)

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

• SME: AED 60K-90K per month (Avg: AED 75K)
• MNC: AED 80K-120K per month (Avg: AED 100K)

FP&A Director

• SME: AED 50K-65K per month (Avg: AED 60K)
• MNC: AED 60K-75K per month (Avg: AED 65K)

Finance Director

• SME: AED 60K-75K per month (Avg: AED 65K)
• MNC: AED 65K-80K per month (Avg: AED 70K)

Financial Controller

• SME: AED 35K-45K per month (Avg: AED 40K)
• MNC: AED 45K-55K per month (Avg: AED 50K)

Audit

Chief Audit Officer

• SME: AED 55K-70K per month (Avg: AED 65K)
• MNC: AED 70K-140K per month (Avg: AED 100K)

Head of Internal Audit

• SME: AED 40K-60K per month (Avg: AED 55K)
• MNC: AED 60K-85K per month (Avg: AED 75K)

Tax

Tax Director

• SME: AED 60K-80K per month (Avg: AED 70K)
• MNC: AED 80K- 115K per month (Avg: AED 95K)

Tax Manager

• SME: AED 40K-50K per month (Avg: AED 45K)
• MNC: AED 45K-55K per month (Avg: AED 50K)

Consulting, Strategy & Transformation

If there’s one thing recruiters care about in management consulting hires, it’s sector-specific expertise.

On top of that, UAE market experience is highly sought after.

Most in-demand skills & experience

• Enterprise Transformation & Change Management
• Digital Strategy & Innovation
• Operating Model & Organisational Design
• Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Communication
• Sustainability & ESG Advisory.

Management & Strategy Consulting Salaries

• Partner: AED 70K-200K per month (Avg: AED 125K)
• Director: AED 60K-135K per month (Avg: AED 90K)
• Senior Manager: AED 48K-100K per month (Avg: AED 70K)

Also read: Dubai’s Finance job market has changed: Lower pay, more competition?

Banking & Financial Services

In 2025, an estimated 9,800 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) were projected to move to the UAE.

Thanks to regulatory reforms, favourable tax policies, and the Golden Visa, the inflow of HNWIs and UHNWIs is only going to accelerate.

At the same time, the rise of fintech platforms, especially in payments, is boosting recruitment.

The result? A surge in demand in:

• Wealth Management
• Compliance
• Private Capital Advisory
• Relationship Managers with SME and Corporate Banking expertise

Wholesale Banking Salaries

• Head of Wholesale Banking (EVP): AED 110K-240K per month (Avg: AED 190K)
• Head of Corporate Banking (SVP): AED 100K-140K per month (Avg: AED 120K)
• Head of Unit: AED 60K-90K per month (Avg: AED 75K)

Retail Banking Salaries

• Head of Consumer Banking (EVP): AED 110K-180K per month (Avg: AED 150K)
• Head of Retail Banking (SVP): AED 95K-132K per month (Avg: AED 100K)

Institutional Sales Salaries

• Managing Director: AED 130K- 200K per month (Avg: AED 180K)
• Head of Distribution: AED 70K-150K per month (Avg: AED 100K)
• Director: AED 70K-AED 110K per month (Avg: AED 90K)

Investment Banking (M&A / DCM / ECM / Leveraged Finance)

• Managing Director: AED 100K-180K per month (Avg: AED 150K)
• Executive / Senior Director: AED 75K-130K per month (Avg: AED 95K)
• Director: AED 70K-100K per month (Avg: AED 90K)

Private Equity / Investments Salaries

• Managing Director / CIO: AED 95K-170K per month (Avg: AED 135K)
• Senior Vice President / Senior Director: AED 80K-120K per month (Avg: AED 100K)
• Vice President / Director: AED 65K-90K per month (Avg: AED 80K)

Legal

ADGM is transforming into a hub of funds and private equity. This is creating strong demand for legal counsel.

However, firms no longer prefer generalists.

If you have deep technical expertise in areas like financial services, projects, energy transition, and digital regulation, welcome aboard.

Skills/experience that make you stand out:

1. Fund & Transaction Expertise: Fund Structuring, Cross-Border Deals, Fund Governance
2. Finance & Project Expertise: Compliance, Asset Management, Project Finance, EPC/PPP, Governance
3. Regulatory Expertise: ADGM and DIFC Regulatory Frameworks
4. ESG & Sustainability: Compliance, Carbon Trading, Green Finance
5. Digital & Technology: Fintech, AI, Digital Assets, Data Privacy, Cybersecurity

Location matters too.

Companies prefer candidates who are already in the region.

So, bring solid legal credentials, cultural fluency, and stakeholder management skills and you’ll be in high demand.”

Legal (In-house) Salaries

• General Counsel / Chief Legal Officer: AED 85K-175K per month (Avg: AED 120K)
• Head of Legal / Legal Director: AED 65K-120K per month (Avg: AED 90K)
• Senior Legal Counsel: AED 40K-58K per month (Avg: AED 48K)

Generalist (Law Firm) salaries

• Partner: AED 90K-200K per month (Avg: AED 130K)
• Counsel: AED 75K-110K per month (Avg: AED 85K)
• Senior Associate: AED 52K-95K per month (Avg: AED 65K)

Also read: Dubai finance director reveals the perks of working with promoter-driven companies

But…

Here’s the reality: the guide doesn’t shout:

The market is tight, especially for senior talent.

Finance Shared Service Centres are growing

• The Middle East is rapidly emerging as a hub for finance shared service centres, as per the report.
• In fact, more organisations are actively centralising finance operations to support regional growth, standardisation, and faster decision-making.

Local talent preferred (With a few exceptions)

• Hiring managers are prioritising ready-to-join, UAE-based professionals.
• Exceptions are made only for highly niche, hard-to-find skill sets, particularly in direct tax, shared services, and specialised tech–finance roles.

Wrapping up…

So what can you expect from the UAE job market in 2026?

Jon Ede, Managing Director Middle East, Michael Page, states in the report that the UAE economy grew about 4% in 2025 and is expected to hit 4.5% in 2026.

The biggest drivers for 2026? Non-oil sectors like:

• Real estate and construction
• Tech and digital
• Professional services

And Finance salaries went up 4-6% in 2025, especially for roles in shared services, automation, consolidation, and investor reporting.

What’s equally interesting is…Around half of the employees are happy with their pay, but nearly two-thirds are thinking about switching jobs in 2026.

Honestly, the UAE is still one of the best places in the world for finance professionals. It’s a dream work destination for many!

But here’s the reality: the talent market is changing, both from the employer and employee perspectives.

If you want the biggest paychecks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you’d better bring more than a CV.

FAQs

Q: How much can accountants earn in Dubai, in 2026?

According to the Michael Page UAE Salary Guide 2026:

• General Ledger Accountants can earn: AED 13K–18K per month in SMEs, while MNCs offer higher compensation in the range of AED 15K–20K per month.
• Junior Accountants (General): AED 10K–15K per month in SMEs, compared to AED 14K–18K in MNCs per month.
• AR/AP Managers: Salaries of AED 20K–25K per month in SMEs, with MNCs paying AED 25K–32K per month.
• AR/AP Accountants: Can earn AED 12K–16K per month in SMEs, while MNC compensation ranges from AED 14K–18K per month.
• Payroll Managers: Can receive salaries of AED 18K–22K per month in SMEs, with MNCs offering AED 20K–26K per month.

Q: Which Finance Roles are earning the most in the UAE?

Top 5 Roles in demand

• Finance Director/ CFO
• Head of Tax/ Tax Manager
• Commercial Finance Manager
• Group Reporting Manager
• Treasury Director