UAE vs Saudi Arabia: Which Pays OFWs Better in 2026? (Salary Breakdown Inside)

Thinking of working in the Gulf in 2026? You're not alone - more than a million Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia and the UAE combined. But which country gives better pay to OFWs (and more importantly, better take-home pay)? I dug into Philippine government data, embassy advisories, and local reporting to break down typical salaries, benefits, taxes/fees, and real take-home comparisons for the most common OFW roles.

Why this matters for Filipinos

• UAE and Saudi are top sources of remittances to the Philippines (BSP data).
• Salary offers are only part of the story - allowances, accommodation, taxes, levies, and living costs affect how much you can send home.
• POEA and DFA rules protect OFWs, but contract details and employer practices differ by country and sector.

Quick summary TLDR

• For skilled jobs (nurses, engineers, experienced hospitality staff), UAE often advertises higher gross salaries and better allowances.
• For middle-to-low skilled roles (construction, drivers, some caregiving contracts), Saudi may offer competitive or even higher pay depending on employer and region.
• UAE tends to have clearer benefit packages (housing allowance, flight allowance), while Saudi's net pay is affected more by living cost differences and new policy levies.
• No personal income tax for most expats in both countries - but living costs and government fees (VAT, expat levies) reduce effective take-home.

How I compare UAE vs Saudi for OFWs

• Sources: POEA (job orders & contracts), OWWA, BSP remittance reports, Philippine Embassy advisories, and Philippine news reports on wages and remittance trends.
• Currencies: approximate conversions used for 2026 estimates - 1 AED approx. PHP 15; 1 SAR approx. PHP 14 (rounded for simple math).
• I show gross monthly ranges, typical employer benefits, likely deductions or fees, and an estimated monthly take-home (PHP) OFWs can expect to remit or save.

Common OFW roles - typical 2026 salary ranges and take-home estimates

Note: amounts vary by employer, city, and experience. These are sample ranges drawn from POEA job orders, embassy advisories, and recent reporting.

1) Domestic Helper / Household Service Worker (HSW)

• UAE: AED 1,300–2,200 / month (approx. PHP 19,500–33,000)
  • Often includes food and accommodation provided by employer.
  • Deductions: recruitment or placement fees (if illegal), remittance cost, small miscellaneous.
  • Estimated realistic take-home (if accommodation provided): PHP 14,000–28,000.
• Saudi: SAR 1,200–1,900 / month (approx. PHP 16,800–26,600)
  • Accommodation and food often included.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 13,000–22,000.

Winner for HSW: Slight edge to UAE for higher top-range pay, but real difference depends on employer-provided board and food.

2) Caregiver / Elderly Care

• UAE: AED 1,800–3,500 (approx. PHP 27,000–52,500)
  • Commonly includes accommodation or housing allowance.
  • Employer may provide OEC and flight for direct hires.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 20,000–42,000.
• Saudi: SAR 1,500–2,800 (approx. PHP 21,000–39,200)
  • Many private-hire contracts; accommodation included in many offers.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 18,000–35,000.

Winner: UAE tends to offer better allowances and higher top-end salaries for caregivers.

3) Registered Nurse

• UAE: AED 8,000–14,000 (approx. PHP 120,000–210,000)
  • Benefits: housing allowance, annual leave airfare, health insurance.
  • Tax: no personal income tax.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 80,000–170,000 after employer-provided room/allowances and remittance costs.
• Saudi: SAR 8,000–12,000 (approx. PHP 112,000–168,000)
  • Benefits similar (housing/allowances vary by hospital).
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 75,000–145,000.

Winner: UAE often higher, especially for private hospitals in Dubai/Abu Dhabi vs provincial Saudi pay.

4) Construction Worker / Skilled Labor

• UAE: AED 1,500–3,500 / month (approx. PHP 22,500–52,500)
  • Many employers provide shared accommodation and meals.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 15,000–38,000.
• Saudi: SAR 1,500–3,500 (approx. PHP 21,000–49,000)
  • Pay comparable; living allowances depend on company.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 16,000–36,000.

Winner: Roughly a tie; the deciding factor is whether accommodation and food are provided.

5) Driver (delivery, bus, company)

• UAE: AED 2,500–4,000 (approx. PHP 37,500–60,000)
  • Accommodation may or may not be included.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 25,000–50,000.
• Saudi: SAR 2,000–3,500 (approx. PHP 28,000–49,000)
  • Often includes overtime pay.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 22,000–40,000.

Winner: UAE often pays a bit more, but Saudi overtime can boost monthly income.

6) Hospitality (housekeeping, FO, F&B)

• UAE: AED 2,000–4,500 (approx. PHP 30,000–67,500)
  • Hotels in Dubai/Abu Dhabi pay better with tips and service charges.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 20,000–50,000.
• Saudi: SAR 1,800–4,000 (approx. PHP 25,200–56,000)
  • Pay rising due to tourism development; but tip culture differs.
  • Estimated take-home: PHP 18,000–45,000.

Winner: UAE for international hotel chains and tips; Saudi improving.

Important cost and policy considerations that lower take-home pay

• Income tax: Neither country generally levies personal income tax on expats - big plus for OFWs.
• VAT & living costs: UAE VAT 5% (stable), Saudi VAT 15% (higher) - affects purchasing power.
• Expat levies and residency fees: Saudi has implemented fees tied to foreign worker employment and family sponsorship (e.g., monthly fees per dependent or employer levies). UAE introduced visa and dependent fee adjustments in recent years. These extra charges reduce disposable income.
• Accommodation & transport: If employer provides housing and transport, take-home is higher. If employer only offers allowance, your rent in Dubai or Riyadh can eat more of the salary.
• Recruitment and placement fees: Use POEA-accredited agencies. Illegal recruitment or paying high placement fees drastically lowers real income.

Quick Checklist - How to compare actual take-home pay

1. Check the POEA job order and contract before signing.
2. Confirm whether accommodation, food, and health insurance are included.
3. Ask for breakdown: basic salary vs allowances (housing, transport, overtime).
4. Verify overtime rates and rest day pay - often biggest earners' difference.
5. Factor remittance fees and local living costs (food, transport, phone, VAT).
6. Use embassy/POEA hotlines if contract terms change after arrival.

Practical examples using simple math

Example A - A nurse in Dubai (UAE) offered AED 10,000 + housing allowance AED 2,000:

• Gross: AED 12,000 ->gt; approx. PHP 180,000
• Employer provides partial housing; estimated personal expenses (food, phone, transport): PHP 35,000
• Remittance possible: PHP 100,000–120,000 monthly depending on spending and savings.

Example B - A nurse in Riyadh (Saudi) offered SAR 10,000, accommodation provided:

• Gross: SAR 10,000 ->gt; approx. PHP 140,000
• Lower VAT on services sometimes offset by higher grocery costs; estimated expenses: PHP 30,000–40,000
• Remittance possible: PHP 80,000–100,000.

Final practical tips for OFWs from the Philippines

• Always get the POEA-approved contract and keep copies (OEC requirements, legal protection).
• Use accredited recruitment agencies to avoid illegal fees.
• Clarify overtime, rest day, and leave entitlements - these can change your monthly net significantly.
• Ask embassy/POLO hotlines in Abu Dhabi or Riyadh for assistance if problems arise.
• Consider total compensation (allowances, housing, flight benefits) and cost of living, not just headline salary.

If you're planning to apply in 2026, check updated POEA job orders and embassy advisories right before signing. The Gulf market moves fast - and a job that looks better on paper might be worse when housing, VAT, and fees are factored in. Good luck, and plan your contract carefully - your take-home pay depends more on the details than the headline number.

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