Chief operating officers for Dubai companies where the founder still runs everything and growth has made that impossible: groups of clinics and salons with several branches, trading and logistics companies, real estate and services businesses, start-ups after a funding round. The COO runs the operating side of the company as a member of the leadership team: operations, people, processes, systems and often finance operations, while the founder or CEO keeps strategy, investors and key clients. We assess candidates on a 100-day plan for your business.
Hire a COOLooking for a job?A COO who builds a management team and a rhythm of numbers under the founder, takes decisions within agreed limits and makes the company less dependent on any single person.
A COO is one of the most expensive mistakes a growing company can make. The checks focus on fit with your size, your founder and your way of working.
Typical hiring mistake: hiring a COO without giving real authority, so the founder keeps overriding decisions and the COO leaves within a year. Agree in writing what the COO decides alone. A COO is a leadership role across the company; an operations manager runs daily operations under a director; a general manager often runs a whole business including sales and profit; a chief of staff extends the founder's capacity without owning operations. Another mistake: hiring a corporate COO used to large teams and budgets into a company of 50 people.
| Level | Salary, AED/month |
|---|---|
| COO of a growing SME or a clinic or salon group | 30,000 - 45,000 |
| COO of a mid-size company | 45,000 - 65,000 |
| Group COO | 65,000+ |
Market estimate for Dubai in 2026, cross-checked with PayScale. Housing and schooling allowances, a bonus and equity or profit share change the full package.
Besides the salary, the employer covers the work permit and residence visa, medical test, Emirates ID and mandatory health insurance. By UAE law these costs cannot be deducted from the employee's pay.
Exact visa and insurance costs depend on company category, emirate and plan. See the full cost of hiring guide or ask us for a budget for your case.
Market estimate for 2026: about 30,000 - 45,000 AED per month for a COO of a growing SME or a clinic or salon group, 45,000 - 65,000 AED for a COO of a mid-size company and 65,000 AED and more for a group COO. Allowances, a bonus and equity or profit share change the full package.
An operations manager runs the daily work under the owner. A general manager is usually responsible for a whole business, including sales and profit. A COO is a member of the leadership team who runs all operations of a growing company or group, while the founder or CEO keeps strategy, investors and key clients. If you want to step back from daily running but stay the face of the business, a COO is usually the answer.
Our fee is fixed for each role and agreed before the search starts. A 10% prepayment of the fee starts the search, the rest is due once the person has started work. If it does not work out, we find a replacement free of charge within 1 month after the person starts. The employer makes the hiring decision.
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