A small company, clinic or family office in Dubai usually needs the same core office team: someone at the front desk, an office manager, an assistant to the owner, a PRO for visas and government paperwork, HR and a bookkeeper or accountant. This guide gives market estimates of monthly salaries for each role, explains what moves the number up or down and shows the cost on top of salary, so you can set a budget before you start the search.
Talk to usMarket estimate in AED per month, total package for a full-time employee in Dubai. Ranges are orientation, not a rate card: the right number depends on the person's experience, languages and the size of the job.
| Role | Typical level | AED per month |
|---|---|---|
| Receptionist / customer service | 1-3 years | 4,000 - 6,500 |
| Office administrator / coordinator | 2-4 years | 5,000 - 8,000 |
| Office manager | 4+ years, runs the office | 8,000 - 14,000 |
| Senior office / admin manager | several sites or a large team | 14,000 - 18,000 |
| Executive assistant | supports an owner or director | 12,000 - 20,000 |
| EA to C-level or a private family office | high trust, travel, confidentiality | 20,000 - 30,000 |
| PRO officer | visas, labour cards, renewals | 5,000 - 8,000 |
| Senior PRO | several companies or free zones | 8,000 - 13,000 |
| HR officer / generalist | contracts, onboarding, leave | 8,000 - 14,000 |
| HR manager | policies, hiring, payroll owner | 15,000 - 25,000 |
| Bookkeeper | daily entries, invoices, VAT records | 5,000 - 8,000 |
| Accountant | month-end, VAT returns, reports | 7,000 - 12,000 |
Two candidates with the same job title can differ by 50% or more. These are the factors that usually decide where in the range a person sits.
In the UAE the package is usually split into basic salary and allowances such as housing and transport. The split matters for the employer, because end-of-service gratuity is calculated from basic salary only.
The monthly salary is not the full cost of the role. When you compare candidates, add these items to the budget.
Good office people in Dubai often have more than one offer. A clear, fair offer closes faster than a higher number that arrives late.
TLNT is a hiring consultancy. For office roles we help an employer define the job, set the salary range as a market estimate, find and assess candidates on real tasks (a practical skills assessment, for example a calendar, a visa checklist or a month-end file) and prepare a clear offer. You make the hiring decision and agree the terms with the candidate yourself; the person is employed directly by your company, the employer sponsors the visa and we give you a step-by-step checklist.
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; the period is set in the contract. Consulting and CRM projects are priced after a free review.
Market estimate: about 8,000 - 14,000 AED per month for an office manager who runs the office, 5,000 - 8,000 AED for an office administrator or coordinator and 14,000 - 18,000 AED for a senior office or admin manager. Languages and the scope of the job move the number.
Market estimate: about 12,000 - 20,000 AED per month for an executive assistant to an owner or director, and 20,000 - 30,000 AED for an assistant to a C-level executive or a private family office, where trust, travel and confidentiality are part of the job.
In a small company one experienced office manager often covers office, PRO and basic HR, and costs less than three separate hires. Pay for the wider scope, check that the person really has PRO and HR experience in the UAE, and plan who covers the work during their leave.
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