Salary Talk: Why So Much Difference For Indians And Others!

India is known to have one of the biggest talent pools in IT and other communication sectors, but that is not certainly the case with the salary structure.

In Dubai’s job market, a harsh reality continues to exist beneath the city’s global image of equality and opportunity. Professionals from countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and several European nations often receive starting salaries of around 15,000 AED for a particular role.

Meanwhile, candidates from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria are commonly offered close to 5,000 AED for the very same position. The responsibilities are identical, the working hours are the same, and the pressure to perform is equally intense.

This gap is not based on skill, productivity or dedication, but largely on passport value. Employees from so called third world nations are expected to deliver the same results while accepting significantly lower pay, fewer benefits and limited career growth. Many endure this imbalance due to financial responsibilities back home and limited global mobility.

Such discrimination creates a silent hierarchy in the workplace, where nationality outweighs merit. It affects morale, mental health and long term professional confidence. While Dubai thrives on the contributions of a diverse workforce, this unequal salary structure exposes a deeper systemic bias.

True progress will come only when compensation is determined by talent, experience and performance rather than the country printed on a passport. Until then, for many, being a third world citizen remains a clear disadvantage in a supposedly global economy.