An Ivy League degree is no longer a guarantee of a high-paying job in the United Arab Emirates. According to recruiters, degrees no longer have a significant impact on a profession’s pay in the second-largest economy in the Arab world, and graduates of mid-tier colleges have a good chance of outearning their counterparts from more prestigious universities.
A degree by itself no longer ensures long-term earning power in the UAE or worldwide. Academic credentials are no longer as important to employers as practical skills, flexibility, and a growth mindset. Prestigious universities might provide an advantage, but resilience, ongoing education, and wise career decisions are necessary for long-term success. By remaining competitive and concentrating on high-impact positions, graduates from mid-tier universities can occasionally out-earn their Ivy League counterparts.
Findings from Marc Ellis’ study
A recent study by Marc Ellis, a leading HR recruitment agency in the UAE, reveals the variation in monthly salaries for entry-level roles in the UAE based on degree type. Medical and healthcare degrees offer the highest earning potential, with monthly salaries ranging from around Dh10,000 to over Dh18,000. Degrees in computer science, AI, and data science also command strong salaries, followed closely by law and environmental science. Finance, accounting, business administration, and engineering degrees offer solid entry-level pay, though with slightly wider ranges. On the lower end of the spectrum are degrees in media and journalism, education (non-STEM), fine arts, sociology, and hospitality. Hospitality and tourism degrees offer the least, with monthly salaries starting as low as Dh2,000 and peaking around Dh5,000.
Best and worst university degrees for earning high salaries
According to The National, the best courses include accounting, finance, and business management as these degrees lead to C-level and strategy positions, which are some of the highest paying positions in the United Arab Emirates. Those who meet these requirements can pursue positions as finance directors, senior investment bankers, chief executives, and chief financial officers. Salaries can range from Dh10,000 to Dh14,000 a month.
Technology roles also pay well for freshers. Computer science, artificial intelligence and data science are some of the courses. The starting salary could be anywhere between Dh10,000 to Dh18,000 a month. Attorneys who are familiar with UAE contracts and laws perform well. Additionally, speaking Arabic or another language gives a candidate a significant edge and raises their market value. Their starting salary can be anywhere between Dh10,000 to Dh16,000 a month.
Engineering is yet another course that has good potential. Since engineering graduates’ skill set is applicable to many areas of the UAE economy, there is a constant need for them there. A fresher can earn anywhere between Dh8,000 to Dh15,000 a month. Medical and healthcare is another area. Post-pandemic there is an increased demand for medical professionals in UAE. Their starting salary can range anywhere between Dh12,000 to Dh20,000 a month.
Worst university degrees with low potential to earn
Media is one of the degrees that doesn’t have a great earning potential, the starting salary for any media graduate stands between Dh6,000 to Dh8,000 a month. Humanities graduates also don’t stand a great chance to earn well. Their starting salary can be between Dh4,000 to Dh8,000 a month. Hospitality sector, Education and environment science are other degrees with not so high earning potential.