Construction Salaries: Dubai (UAE) vs Europe – 2025

Construction Salaries: Dubai (UAE) vs Europe — 2025

Updated: October 6, 2025. Reference conversions for comparison: 1 AED ≈ €0.232, 1 EUR ≈ 7.46 DKK, ≈ 11.2 SEK, ≈ 11.3 NOK, ≈ 150 ISK, ≈ 4.30 PLN, ≈ 5.09 RON.
Dubai packages are typically basic salary + allowances (housing, transport, meals, medical). End-of-service gratuity is calculated only from basic salary. European figures are shaped by taxes, collective agreements, region, and overtime.

How to read the ranges
• Dubai: monthly BASIC in AED + EUR (~)
• Euro countries: EUR (monthly, typical ranges)
• Non-euro countries: local currency + EUR (~)

1) General laborers

• Dubai (UAE): 900–1,200 AED (~€210–280)
• Italy: €1,200–1,600
• Spain: €1,050–1,400
• Germany: €1,700–2,200
• Austria: €1,700–2,200
• France: €1,500–2,000
• Netherlands: €1,700–2,200
• Belgium: €1,700–2,200
• Denmark: 14,000–18,000 DKK (~€1,880–2,420)
• Sweden: 19,000–23,000 SEK (~€1,695–2,055)
• Iceland: 300,000–360,000 ISK (~€2,000–2,400)
• Norway: 22,000–27,000 NOK (~€1,945–2,385)
• Finland: €1,700–2,200
• Portugal: €900–1,200
• Poland: 3,800–5,200 PLN (~€885–1,210)
• Romania: 2,700–3,300 RON (~€530–650)

2) Skilled workers (masons, drywall, carpenters, steel fixers)

• Dubai (UAE): 2,000–3,500 AED (~€465–810)
• Italy: €1,600–2,200
• Spain: €1,350–1,900
• Germany: €2,100–2,800
• Austria: €2,100–2,800
• France: €1,900–2,600
• Netherlands: €2,200–2,900
• Belgium: €2,200–2,900
• Denmark: 20,000–25,000 DKK (~€2,680–3,350)
• Sweden: 26,000–32,000 SEK (~€2,320–2,860)
• Iceland: 380,000–470,000 ISK (~€2,535–3,135)
• Norway: 30,000–37,000 NOK (~€2,655–3,275)
• Finland: €2,200–2,900
• Portugal: €1,100–1,600
• Poland: 5,200–7,200 PLN (~€1,210–1,675)
• Romania: 3,800–6,200 RON (~€750–1,220)

3) Electricians (buildings/site) & Plumbers (sanitary/heating)

• Dubai (UAE):
  • Electricians: 3,200–6,000 AED (~€740–1,395)
  • Plumbers: 3,000–5,500 AED (~€700–1,275)
• Italy: €1,900–2,700
• Spain: €1,500–2,200
• Germany: €2,300–3,200
• Austria: €2,300–3,200
• France: €2,100–2,900
• Netherlands: €2,400–3,300
• Belgium: €2,400–3,300
• Denmark: 24,000–30,000 DKK (~€3,215–4,020)
• Sweden: 28,000–35,000 SEK (~€2,500–3,125)
• Iceland: 450,000–560,000 ISK (~€3,000–3,735)
• Norway: 33,000–41,000 NOK (~€2,920–3,635)
• Finland: €2,400–3,300
• Portugal: €1,300–1,900
• Poland: 6,000–8,500 PLN (~€1,395–1,980)
• Romania:
  • Electricians: 4,800–7,500 RON (~€945–1,475)
  • Plumbers: 4,500–7,000 RON (~€885–1,375)

4) Team leaders / Foremen

• Dubai (UAE): 3,400–4,800 AED (~€790–1,115)
• Italy: €2,200–3,000
• Spain: €1,800–2,500
• Germany: €2,800–3,800
• Austria: €2,800–3,800
• France: €2,600–3,600
• Netherlands: €3,000–4,000
• Belgium: €3,000–4,000
• Denmark: 28,000–34,000 DKK (~€3,750–4,555)
• Sweden: 32,000–39,000 SEK (~€2,855–3,480)
• Iceland: 520,000–650,000 ISK (~€3,455–4,315)
• Norway: 38,000–46,000 NOK (~€3,365–4,075)
• Finland: €2,900–3,900
• Portugal: €1,700–2,400
• Poland: 7,000–10,000 PLN (~€1,630–2,325)
• Romania: 5,500–8,500 RON (~€1,080–1,670)

5) Civil / Site engineers

• Dubai (UAE): 10,000–23,000 AED (~€2,320–5,350)
• Italy: €2,800–4,500
• Spain: €2,200–3,600
• Germany: €3,500–5,500
• Austria: €3,500–5,500
• France: €3,200–5,000
• Netherlands: €3,800–6,000
• Belgium: €3,800–6,000
• Denmark: 38,000–50,000 DKK (~€5,095–6,700)
• Sweden: 40,000–55,000 SEK (~€3,570–4,910)
• Iceland: 650,000–850,000 ISK (~€4,315–5,645)
• Norway: 55,000–70,000 NOK (~€4,865–6,190)
• Finland: €3,700–5,700
• Portugal: €2,200–3,500
• Poland: 9,000–15,000 PLN (~€2,095–3,490)
• Romania: 7,500–12,500 RON (~€1,475–2,450)

6) Construction / Project managers

• Dubai (UAE): 13,000–23,000+ AED (~€3,015–5,350+)
• Italy: €4,500–7,000
• Spain: €3,500–5,500
• Germany: €5,500–8,000
• Austria: €5,500–8,000
• France: €5,000–7,500
• Netherlands: €6,000–9,000
• Belgium: €6,000–9,000
• Denmark: 55,000–70,000 DKK (~€7,370–9,380)
• Sweden: 55,000–70,000 SEK (~€4,910–6,245)
• Iceland: 900,000–1,200,000 ISK (~€5,980–7,975)
• Norway: 70,000–90,000 NOK (~€6,190–7,955)
• Finland: €5,800–8,500
• Portugal: €3,500–5,500
• Poland: 15,000–25,000 PLN (~€3,490–5,810)
• Romania: 12,000–22,000 RON (~€2,355–4,325)

What drives the differences

• Dubai: allowances (housing, transport, meals, medical), no personal income tax, and large projects can lift total packages; ensure a strong basic as gratuity is based on it.
• Western/Nordic Europe: higher gross salaries with heavier taxation; collective agreements and HSE standards set floors and premiums.
• Central & Eastern Europe: generally lower salary levels with large intra-country variation; overtime, bonuses, and per-diems can raise take-home pay.

Practical tips

• Compare basic vs total package (Dubai) and gross vs net (Europe) on the same monthly basis and hours.
• Clarify housing/transport/meals in Dubai offers.
• In Europe, check the relevant collective agreement, overtime pay, and location allowances.
• Always factor in local cost of living.

Disclaimer

All ranges are indicative and vary by city, contractor, project type, experience, season, and overtime. Currency conversions are approximate and provided for comparability only.