Sous chefs for restaurant, hotel, beach club and catering kitchens in Dubai. The sous chef is the head chef's second in command: runs the pass when the chef is off, leads the line and the prep, keeps recipes and portions consistent, orders and rotates stock and trains the commis and chefs de partie. We assess candidates with a cooking and tasting session in a real kitchen and on how they run a section under pressure.
Hire a sous chefLooking for a job?A sous chef who keeps every plate identical to the spec on a full night, knows the food cost of the menu and leads the kitchen when the head chef is away.
A sous chef is judged by what comes out of the kitchen on a busy night. The checks below are hands-on and take place before the person starts.
How it differs from a private chef: a private chef cooks alone for one family in a villa, plans menus around their tastes and diets and often shops and travels with them; a sous chef works in a brigade, follows the head chef's menu and leads people during service. A great private chef may struggle on a busy line, and the other way round. Typical hiring mistake: choosing on one beautiful signature dish at the tasting without testing consistency, speed and leadership, or hiring a sous chef whose cuisine does not match the concept.
| Level | Salary, AED/month |
|---|---|
| Junior sous chef | 5,500 - 7,500 |
| Sous chef, restaurant or hotel outlet | 7,500 - 11,000 |
| Senior or executive sous chef, fine dining or large hotel | 11,000 - 16,000 |
Market estimate for Dubai in 2026, cross-checked with GulfTalent. Housing, transport, duty meals or service charge 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 7,500 - 11,000 AED per month for a sous chef in a restaurant or hotel outlet, 5,500 - 7,500 AED for a junior sous chef and 11,000 - 16,000 AED for a senior or executive sous chef in fine dining or a large hotel. Housing, transport, duty meals or service charge can change the full package.
For a restaurant, hotel or catering kitchen with a team, you need a sous chef: they lead the line and keep recipes consistent under the head chef. For a family home, you need a private chef who cooks alone, plans menus around the family's tastes and diets and is discreet in the house. The tasting is different too: speed and consistency for a sous chef, range and personal menus for a private chef.
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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