Compliance Officer salary in Dubai
The median reported base salary for a compliance officer in the UAE is AED 9,800 a month, with the top quarter of respondents at AED 16,200 or above — from 84 salary profiles.
Median
AED 9,800
per month · $2,670
AED 117,600 a year
75th percentile
AED 16,200
per month · $4,414
+65% over the median
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How it compares in Finance & Banking
Among the 9 finance & banking roles with enough reported data to publish, compliance officer ranks #3 by median pay. The gap between the median and the 75th percentile is 65%, which is roughly what experience, employer size and negotiation are worth in this role.
Against every role in this guide, whose medians centre on AED 7,830 a month, compliance officer pays 25% above the typical figure. On annual terms that is AED 117,600 at the median and AED 194,400 at the 75th percentile, before allowances.
On the data itself: 84 people reported pay for this role, which is a mid-sized sample for this guide — enough to be indicative, not enough to be precise.
What moves compliance officer pay in the UAE
- Regulator. Roles in entities regulated by the Central Bank (CBUAE), DFSA (DIFC) or FSRA (ADGM) pay more than compliance roles in unregulated companies.
- Specialism. AML/CFT, sanctions and regulatory reporting expertise are paid above general policy and training work.
- Certifications. ICA diplomas and CAMS are the credentials most often named in UAE compliance ads.
Beyond the base salary
Offers usually include basic salary, housing and transport allowances, medical insurance and annual flights. Banks and financial institutions add a performance bonus and sometimes staff banking benefits.
Where the compliance officer jobs are
Banks, exchange houses, insurers, payment firms and fintechs are the main employers, followed by real estate brokers and dealers in precious metals, which also have AML duties. DIFC and ADGM firms hire compliance officers from their earliest stages because the regulator requires the function.
Also advertised as: Compliance Analyst, Regulatory Compliance Officer, Compliance Manager, Compliance Specialist, MLRO (Money Laundering Reporting Officer).
Questions about compliance officer pay
Which certifications help a compliance officer’s pay in the UAE?
CAMS and the International Compliance Association diplomas are the ones UAE ads name most. Experience with the local regulator’s rulebook — CBUAE, DFSA or FSRA — often counts for as much.
Do non-financial companies in Dubai hire compliance officers?
Yes — real estate brokers, precious-metal dealers and corporate service providers have AML obligations, and many larger groups have a compliance function. These roles tend to pay less than banking compliance.
Roles that pay similarly
- Relationship Manager (Banking)AED 9,000 median
- Financial AnalystAED 7,980 median
- Internal AuditorAED 7,860 median
- Senior AccountantAED 6,990 median
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