UAE jobs and salaries: how much does coding and programming pay?

New UAE initiative will train 100,000 computer programmers - here's our guide to this fast-growing profession

The UAE has signed a deal with a host of major tech companies to train 100,000 young programmers and coders. Satish Kumar / The National

Computer programming, one of the most in-demand professions in the world, is expected to become increasingly popular in the UAE after a deal was signed with leading technology companies.

On Saturday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced a national initiative in which major companies will train 100,000 youngsters in computer programming within five years.

Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, IBM, LinkedIn, Nvidia and Facebook will collaborate in the programme.

The goal is to create 1,000 digital companies and increase government support for start-ups from Dh1.5 billion to Dh4bn ($408.4 million to $1.08bn).

Nevin Lewis, chief executive of Black and Grey Human Resources, said the training campaign would help to launch the careers of future leaders in the world of technology.

“Based on my recent UAE job market observations and recruitment experience, I can confidently say that you’ll be in luck,” he said.

“There are plenty of new programming jobs being created by ambitious tech entrepreneurs who are scouting for talent to collaborate with and bring ideas to life.

“However, don’t expect instant gratification – all programming careers take patience and attention to detail.

“You might consider getting your foot in the door by building your foundational knowledge and portfolio.

“Personally, I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that an entertaining application or sophisticated computer program all boils down to a string of code.”

Most programming jobs have a starting salary of Dh10,000 a month or more for entry-level positions.

Karuna Agarwal, director of Future Tense Human Resource Solutions, said salaries may also depend on a person's level of education and experience.

"With technical expertise at its base, professional prospects for coding are driven by the depth of both functional and industrial expertise.

With technical expertise at its base, professional prospects for coding are driven by the depth of both functional and industrial expertise.

“The UAE's persistent push for raising the bars of digitisation across the economy got a further boost with the latest announcement on the mega plan for coders.”

Here are some of the top jobs in computer programming and coding:

DevOps engineer

The entry-level monthly salary of a DevOps engineer starts from Dh12,500. It rises to Dh25,000 for mid-level jobs and Dh35,000 for senior level positions.

These engineers are IT professionals who work with software developers, system operators and other production IT staff to oversee code releases and deployments.

Full stack developer

The entry-level salary for this profession starts at Dh10,000, rising to Dh18,000 for mid-level posts and Dh25,000 for senior positions.

A full stack developer is a web developer or engineer who works on the front and back ends of a website or app.

“This means they can tackle projects that involve databases, building user-facing websites, or even work with clients during the planning phase of projects,” Mr Lewis said.

“There’s often not a black-and-white distinction between front-end and back-end development. Full stack developers are jacks-of-all-trades.”

Software application developer

This job comes with a starting salary of Dh10,000 a month for entry-level positions, Dh18,000 for mid-level roles and Dh30,000 for senior jobs.

Application developers are also known as software developers or software architects. They are responsible for developing and modifying source code for software applications, which help customers with computer programs.

They design computer applications, such as games and custom software.

Back-end developer/engineer

The starting salary for this role is Dh10,000 for entry-level, Dh12,000 for mid-level and Dh30,000 for senior level.

A back-end engineer designs, builds and maintains the server of web applications. They must also know programming languages.

Mr Lewis said some of the in-demand programming languages were Python, JavaScript, Java, HTML5, Oracle PL/SQL, PERL, Ruby / Ruby on Rails, C++, PHP and Swift.

UAE Salary Guide 2021

Banking

Banking

Banking

Banking

Banking

Banking

Banking

Legal

Legal

Oil and Gas

Oil and Gas

Oil and Gas

Oil and Gas

Public sector

Public sector

Strategy

Strategy

Strategy

Strategy

Strategy

Strategy

Strategy

Strategy

Strategy

Strategy

Senior finance and tax

Senior finance and tax

Senior finance and tax

Senior finance and tax

Senior finance and tax

Senior finance and tax

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

Investment management

Investment management

Investment management

Investment management

Technology

Technology

Technology

Technology

Technology

HR and office support

HR and office support

HR and office support

Financial services

Financial services

Financial services

Financial services

Financial services

Accounting

Accounting

Accounting

Human Resources

Accounting and finance salaries

Accounting and finance salaries

Property and construction

Property and construction

Property and construction

Secretary and office support

Secretary and office support

Secretary and office support

Secretary and office support

Digital

Digital

Digital

Digital

Digital

Digital

Digital

Digital

Front-end developer/engineer

A front-end engineer works with designers to make a website functional, user-friendly and fast.

These jobs are in high demand, particularly for those who are skilled in developing websites for mobile devices.

Entry-level salaries start at Dh10,000 and rise to Dh15,000 for mid-level jobs and Dh30,000 for senior positions.

UX developer

A user experience (UX) engineer builds and designs digital products such as websites and apps.

This is one of the most in-demand jobs in the world of programming, as companies around the world strengthen their digital services.

The starting salary for entry-level positions is Dh10,000, mid-level positions can earn a starting salary of Dh15,000 and senior roles can reach Dh30,000.

Quality assurance/test analyst

This profession has the same starting salary as a UX developer.

A quality assurance analyst reviews the website or software product before it is released to the public.

Top ways to earn extra income in the UAE during the summer - in pictures

Part-time roles in digital marketing can provide a monthly salary of between Dh3,000 and Dh6,000. Headway/ Unsplash

Content creators have to think of creative ways to sell a client’s brand using the firm’s social media channels. Unsplash

Being an e-commerce manager involves looking after the company’s website, advertising and keeping up with the latest technology. Unsplash

As full-time employees take time off during the summer, executive assistants are hired under temporary contracts. Unsplash

A market researcher helps the company stay on top of all the latest trends in the market. Unsplash

A person in telesales calls potential customers and tries to sell a company’s products or services. It is an easy way to earn a side income during the summer, with an income between Dh1,000 to Dh3,000. AFP

A qualified education consultant can help pupils select the right university and support their applications. Unsplash

If you have an eye for unique home or office designs, this part-time role could pay up to Dh12,000, depending on the client. Unsplash

An online events executive would be responsible for a range of tasks, from team building to sales training. Income under a temporary contract could range from Dh3,000 to Dh8,000. Unsplash

There are many freelance writing opportunities available online on websites such as Fiverr and UpWork. Depending on the job and client, freelance writers could earn up to Dh1,500 on just one assignment. Unsplash