Nurse Salary in UAE (Dubai & Abu Dhabi) by Specialty

Overview of Nursing Salaries in the UAE

Across the UAE, registered nurses earn on average AED 8,000–15,000 per month, with senior and specialized roles exceeding AED 18,000–25,000 monthly in top-tier hospitals. Pay scales are influenced by:

• Emirate (Abu Dhabi tends to offer slightly higher packages than Dubai).
  
• Employer type (government, semi-government, or private).
  
• Specialization and experience level.
  
• Qualification (BSN, post-graduate certifications, international licensing).
  
• Nationality bracket (expatriate nurses vs. locally licensed nurses).
  

Nurse Salary in Dubai & Abu Dhabi by Specialty

1. ICU (Intensive Care Unit) Nurse

• Salary range: AED 14,000–20,000/month
  
• Why it ranks high: Critical-care nursing requires advanced monitoring, ventilator management, and life-support expertise.
  
• Top employers: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Mediclinic City Hospital, Rashid Hospital.
  

2. Operating Room (Theatre) Nurse

• Salary range: AED 13,000–18,000/month
  
• Scope: Assisting surgeons, maintaining sterile fields, and handling specialized surgical instruments.
  
• Notes: Perioperative certification or scrub experience adds leverage in private and government hospitals.
  

3. Emergency Room (ER) Nurse

• Salary range: AED 12,000–17,000/month
  
• Environment: Fast-paced trauma units in tertiary hospitals or urgent-care centers.
  
• Key employers: Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Saudi German Hospital, and Aster Hospital.
  

4. NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Nurse

• Salary range: AED 13,000–19,000/month
  
• Specialization: Caring for premature and critically ill newborns.
  
• Trend: Increasing demand in maternity and women’s hospitals.
  

5. Pediatric Nurse

• Salary range: AED 10,000–16,000/month
  
• Workplace: Pediatric departments and children’s specialty hospitals.
  
• Note: Certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) often required.
  

6. Labor and Delivery Nurse

• Salary range: AED 11,000–17,000/month
  
• Core tasks: Assisting during childbirth, patient preparation, postpartum care.
  
• Observation: Strong demand in Dubai’s maternity units and private hospitals.
  

7. Dialysis Nurse

• Salary range: AED 11,000–15,000/month
  
• Focus: Chronic kidney disease management and dialysis operations.
  
• Employers: NMC Specialty Hospital, Burjeel Hospital, SEHA centers.
  

8. Home Care Nurse

• Salary range: AED 8,000–13,000/month
  
• Demand driver: Expansion of home healthcare agencies serving long-term or elderly patients.
  
• Consideration: Flexible schedules but fewer institutional benefits than hospitals.
  

9. School Nurse

• Salary range: AED 7,000–12,000/month
  
• Employer type: Private schools, nurseries, and educational groups.
  
• Notes: Lower clinical workload; visa and accommodation often included.
  

10. Head Nurse / Nurse Supervisor

• Salary range: AED 18,000–25,000/month
  
• Role: Overseeing nursing teams, managing budgets, enforcing clinical standards.
  
• Advantage: Strong leadership background and HAAD/DHA license boost earning potential.
  

Comparison: Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi

• Abu Dhabi tends to offer 5–10% higher base salaries, especially within SEHA and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, reflecting the emirate’s emphasis on healthcare excellence.
  
• Dubai compensates with tax-free incentives, career mobility, and exposure to multinational healthcare systems.
  
• Private hospitals in Dubai offer variable pay, with premium institutions paying close to government rates.
  

Factors Influencing Nurse Salaries in the UAE

Nurse pay in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is shaped by multiple structural and individual factors:

1. Experience Level – Senior nurses with over five years of clinical experience typically earn 30–60% more than entry-level staff. Charge nurses, supervisors, and clinical educators fall into higher pay brackets.
   
2. Specialization – Critical care, operating room, and NICU nurses consistently receive top-tier pay due to higher technical expertise and workload intensity.
   
3. Type of Employer –
   
   • Government hospitals (e.g., SEHA, DHA) offer structured pay scales, job stability, and stronger benefits.
     
   • Private hospitals vary widely: high-end facilities (Cleveland Clinic, Mediclinic, NMC) pay well, while smaller clinics may offer reduced rates.
     
     
4. Location – Abu Dhabi packages are often 5–10% higher than Dubai due to government funding and higher living costs.
   
5. Licensing and Qualification – Nurses holding UAE or Western-recognized licenses (DHA, DOH, HAAD, NCLEX) and advanced degrees (BSN, MSN) receive better offers.
   
6. Shift and Overtime Work – Night shifts, weekends, and emergency duty typically include additional hourly compensation or bonuses.
   
7. Nationality and Contract Type – Expatriate nurses’ contracts may differ by employer policy, particularly regarding relocation benefits or dependent sponsorship.

Read also: Top 10 Highest-Paying Nursing Jobs in UAE (2025 Updated)

Common Allowances and Benefits

Compensation packages often extend beyond base salary and may include:

• Housing Allowance or Provided Accommodation – Most hospitals offer free or subsidized housing.
  
• Transportation Allowance – Either cash allowance or staff shuttle service.
  
• Annual Airfare Ticket – Paid trip to the home country each year or every two years.
  
• Health Insurance – Full medical coverage for the nurse, and sometimes for dependents.
  
• Paid Leave – 30–40 days annual leave depending on employer.
  
• End-of-Service Gratuity – Lump-sum payment after contract completion as per UAE labour law.
  
• Continuing Education Support – Sponsorship for professional training or license renewal.
  
• Performance Bonuses – Common in private hospitals tied to evaluation and departmental KPIs.
  
• Children’s Education Allowance – Offered in limited government or high-end private contracts.
  

Which Hospitals Offer the Highest Salaries

• Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi — up to AED 25,000/month for specialized roles.
  
• Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SEHA) — strong government packages and benefits.
  
• Mediclinic Middle East — competitive pay and continuous professional development.
  
• NMC Healthcare and Burjeel Hospital — known for higher private-sector salaries.
  

Career Growth and Licensing

• Nurses must hold a valid DOH (Abu Dhabi) or DHA (Dubai) license, obtained through examination or credential recognition.
  
• Career advancement paths include Clinical Educator, Nurse Manager, or Advanced Practice Nurse roles.
  
• Continuing education and postgraduate certifications in ICU, NICU, or oncology raise long-term salary potential.
  

Summary

In the UAE’s competitive healthcare market, nursing salaries differ widely by specialty and location. High-demand roles in ICU, OR, and NICU settings lead the compensation chart, while entry-level and school nurses occupy the lower end. Abu Dhabi generally provides higher pay, but Dubai offers broader exposure and flexibility. For nurses seeking relocation or advancement, mastering a specialty and securing DHA/DOH licensure are the strongest levers for higher income and job security.