What is a good salary in Dubai? Well it depends who is asking. Are you single or married? Do you have children? Are you looking to share accommodations or live alone?

For simplicity sakes, because I fit in the upper middle class white collar professional category, this discussion is meant for you if you are in my position.

Most Dubai salary related questions on our discussion forums are asked by mostly blue collar workers and others who are either single or looking to share accommodations while in Dubai.

If you fit this category I recommend visiting our Dubai discussion forums where I am sure you will find the answer to your question.

So are you an expat working in Dubai or one who wishes to work in Dubai?

If so, keep in mind that Dubai salary structures are a bit unique. Getting paid well with perks such as housing allowances is common. I mention this so you know that when I say salary, I really mean your total compensation package.

For a white collar professional, who is relatively young, married with no children, the following numbers are a good approximate:

• Housing 10,000
• Car/Fuel/Insurance 3,000
• Utilities = 1,500
• Groceries = 1,500
• Everything else I forgot about such as dinning out, shopping, entertainment, etc. = 9,000

Total: 25,000 Dirhams to live a comfortable life in Dubai.

These numbers are good as of 2010. Adjust these accordingly if you are reading it after.

So what is a good salary in Dubai? It depends on how much you want to save in Dubai. The numbers above do not include your savings. To read more on this subject, read my discussion on how to negotiate with Dubai employers.

Check out our Dubai Salaries Spreadsheet for reference