GCC tech & engineering careers, software, data science, product, and AI/ML.
Pay bands across software engineering, data, AI/ML, DevOps, and technology leadership tracks, plus verified roles across 5 GCC tech hubs.
, +
Salary benchmarks
7
Firm types tracked
5
GCC markets
1001
Active roles
Why Tech & Engineering professionals use Tenure
GCC technology hiring is accelerating. Saudi Vision 2030 is driving large digital transformation investment, the UAE's national AI strategy is pulling in global talent, and regional tech champions are scaling internationally. From NEOM to Dubai Internet City's expansion, the GCC is becoming a primary tech hub for the region. Tenure tracks software engineering, data science, product management, DevOps, AI/ML research, cybersecurity, and technology leadership roles across the region, with salary data covering base packages, equity, golden visa pathways, and tax-free compensation structures.
Salary benchmarks for IC and management tracks, from junior engineer through CTO
Regional champions vs. global tech vs. government tech compensation data
Golden visa and tax-free package intelligence for tech professionals
Weekly intelligence on funding rounds, launches, and hiring surges
Related Tenure Compass guides
What working in Tech & Engineering costs in the Gulf
UAE Golden Visa salary route opens at AED 30,000/month for skilled professionals; tech roles meeting the bar qualify directly. See Golden Visa eligibility for tech professionals.
How we source compensation data
Tenure compensation benchmarks are built from primary sources, not surveys. We combine anonymous professional submissions, regional market intelligence and recruiter networks, and public filings where available, alongside structured editorial research. Every data point is versioned and refreshed on a monthly cadence. Full firm-level breakdowns, base/bonus/housing splits, and tier-by-tier comparisons are available to Tenure Pro members. Read the full methodology →
Tech & Engineering career levels we track
Salary data and roles organised by seniority, from entry-level through executive.
Junior Engineer
0–4 years
Engineer
5–9 years
Senior Engineer
10–14 years
Staff / Lead Engineer
15–19 years
Engineering Manager / VP Engineering
20+ years
CTO
20+ years
Career path
Where technology - data & engineering careers lead
The full ladder, junior to senior, with pay at every rung and Gulf-specific exit options. Refreshed monthly from primary sources.
- Entry
Junior Engineer / Data Analyst
AED 24.5K / month38 sources - Mid
Engineer / Data Scientist
Pay band locked, Tenure Pro members see the figure.24 sources - Senior
Senior Engineer / Senior Data Scientist
Pay band locked, Tenure Pro members see the figure.20 sources - Senior
Staff Engineer / Lead Engineer
Pay band locked, Tenure Pro members see the figure.16 sources - Lead
Principal Engineer / Head of Data
Pay band locked, Tenure Pro members see the figure.16 sources - Lead
Director of Engineering / CISO
Pay band locked, Tenure Pro members see the figure.6 sources - Executive
VP Engineering / CTO
Pay band locked, Tenure Pro members see the figure.4 sources
Firms in Tech & Engineering we benchmark against
The employers whose compensation sets the market in this sector. Some are active on our jobs board today; others are canonical reference points for our salary benchmarks.
Tech & Engineering compensation overview
Annual salary ranges by career level, based on our tech & engineering salary database across the GCC.
Junior Engineer
Ranges widely by firm type, unlock for firm-specific bands →Senior Engineer
Ranges widely by firm type, unlock for firm-specific bands →Staff / Lead Engineer
Ranges widely by firm type, unlock for firm-specific bands →Engineering Manager / VP Engineering
Ranges widely by firm type, unlock for firm-specific bands →senior_associate
AED 95k – 518k/yr$19/mo · Unlockstartup
AED 95k – 518k/yrUnlockregional_champion
AED 127k – 280k/yrUnlockgovernment
AED 180k – 440k/yrUnlockgeneral_market
AED 191k – 420k/yrUnlockprincipal
AED 120k – 1.2M/yr$19/mo · Unlockvendor
AED 120k – 180k/yrUnlockbigtech
AED 256k – 1.2M/yrUnlocktelecom
AED 432k – 588k/yrUnlockgeneral_market
AED 609k – 944k/yrUnlockFull breakdowns include base, bonus, housing, and total cash
See the full salary data →Browse tech & engineering salary profiles
Compensation pages for every tech & engineering role we benchmark across the GCC. Click through for base, bonus, housing allowance, and total cash by firm tier.
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Startup
Software Engineer
Dubai · Vendor
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Startup
Senior Software Engineer
Jeddah · Startup
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Dubai · Startup
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Regional Champion
Data Analyst (Junior)
Dubai · General Market
Senior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Startup
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Regional Champion
Data Analyst (Junior)
Riyadh · General Market
Data Scientist (Mid)
Abu Dhabi · Startup
Senior Software Engineer
Dubai · Vendor
Senior Software Engineer
Jeddah · Regional Champion
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Dubai · Regional Champion
Software Engineer (Startup)
Dubai · Startup
Junior Software Engineer
Dubai · General Market
Junior Software Engineer
Riyadh · General Market
Junior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Big Tech
Junior Software Engineer
Dubai · Big Tech
Junior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Regional Champion
Data Scientist (Mid)
Dubai · Startup
Junior Software Engineer
Dubai · Regional Champion
QA Engineer (Mid)
Dubai · General Market
Engineering Manager
Abu Dhabi · Startup
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Government
Cybersecurity Engineer
Dubai · General Market
Software Engineer (L4/E4)
Dubai · Big Tech
Fintech Software Engineer (Mid)
Dubai · Startup
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Dubai · General Market
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Dubai · Regional Champion
Fintech Software Engineer (Mid)
Riyadh · Startup
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Riyadh · General Market
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Riyadh · Big Tech
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Dubai · Big Tech
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Riyadh · Regional Champion
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Big Tech
Senior Software Engineer (L5/E5)
Dubai · Big Tech
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · General Market
Inside Sales Representative
Dubai · Vendor
Inside Sales Representative
Riyadh · Vendor
Data Scientist (Mid)
Abu Dhabi · Regional Champion
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Government
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Doha · General Market
DevOps Engineer (Mid)
Riyadh · Big Tech
DevOps Engineer (Mid)
Dubai · Big Tech
Engineering Manager
Dubai · Startup
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Dubai · Government
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Abu Dhabi · General Market
Software Engineer
Dubai · Big Tech
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Telecom
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Vendor
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Industry
Senior Software Engineer
Jeddah · Government
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Dubai · Government
DevOps / Cloud Engineer
Dubai · General Market
Senior Software Engineer
Jeddah · General Market
Software Engineer (Regional Tech)
Dubai · Regional Champion
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Telecom
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Vendor
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Big Tech
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Industry
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Dubai · Telecom
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Dubai · Vendor
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Dubai · Startup
Mid-Level Software Engineer
Dubai · Industry
Senior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Government
Senior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Regional Champion
Senior Software Engineer
Doha · General Market
Senior Software Engineer
Riyadh · General Market
Senior Software Engineer
Doha · Big Tech
Senior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Big Tech
Engineering Manager
Abu Dhabi · Regional Champion
Cybersecurity Analyst (Mid)
Dubai · General Market
Security Analyst
Riyadh · Startup
Senior Software Engineer
Jeddah · Big Tech
Senior Software Engineer
Jeddah · Telecom
Senior Software Engineer
Jeddah · Industry
Senior Software Engineer
Jeddah · Vendor
RF / IBS Engineer
Dubai · Telecom
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Dubai · Telecom
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Dubai · Industry
DevOps / Platform Engineer
Dubai · Vendor
Engineering Manager
Dubai · Regional Champion
Cybersecurity Analyst (Mid)
Riyadh · General Market
Inside Sales Manager
Dubai · Vendor
Software Engineer (Gov/Semi-Gov)
Riyadh · Government
Inside Sales Manager
Riyadh · Vendor
Data Scientist (Mid)
Abu Dhabi · General Market
Senior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Telecom
Senior Software Engineer
Dubai · Regional Champion
Senior Software Engineer
Dubai · Big Tech
Senior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Industry
Business Analyst
Riyadh · Startup
Cloud Engineer
Riyadh · Startup
Senior Software Engineer
Riyadh · Vendor
Senior Software Engineer
Abu Dhabi · Big Tech
Senior Software Engineer
Dubai · Government
Senior QA / SDET Engineer
Dubai · Regional Champion
Senior Software Engineer
Dubai · General Market
Data Scientist (Mid)
Dubai · Regional Champion
Data Scientist (Mid)
Dubai · Government
Software QA Engineer
Riyadh · Startup
Data Engineer
Riyadh · Startup
Backend Developer
Riyadh · Startup
Frontend Developer
Riyadh · Startup
DevOps Engineer
Riyadh · Startup
Data Scientist (Mid)
Abu Dhabi · Vendor
Data Scientist (Mid)
Abu Dhabi · Telecom
Data Scientist (Mid)
Abu Dhabi · Big Tech
Data Scientist (Mid)
Abu Dhabi · Industry
Customer Success Manager / TAM
Dubai · Vendor
Pre-Sales Manager
Dubai · Telecom
Customer Success Manager / TAM
Riyadh · Vendor
Engineering Manager
Abu Dhabi · Government
Customer Project Manager
Dubai · Telecom
Senior DevOps / Cloud Lead
Dubai · General Market
Engineering Manager
Dubai · General Market
Data Scientist
Riyadh · Startup
Security Engineer
Riyadh · Startup
Data Scientist (Mid)
Dubai · Vendor
Data Scientist (Mid)
Dubai · Telecom
Data Scientist (Mid)
Dubai · Industry
Engineering Manager
Abu Dhabi · General Market
Senior Cybersecurity Engineer
Dubai · General Market
Pre-Sales Manager
Dubai · Vendor
Data Scientist (Mid)
Abu Dhabi · Government
Senior Mobile Developer (iOS/Android)
Dubai · Regional Champion
Engineering Manager
Dubai · Government
Pre-Sales Manager
Riyadh · Vendor
Senior Cybersecurity Engineer
Doha · Government
Senior Cybersecurity Engineer
Riyadh · General Market
Engineering Manager
Abu Dhabi · Telecom
Engineering Manager
Abu Dhabi · Big Tech
Engineering Manager
Abu Dhabi · Industry
Engineering Manager
Abu Dhabi · Vendor
Senior Mobile Developer
Riyadh · Regional Champion
Security Architect
Riyadh · Startup
Solutions Architect
Dubai · Telecom
Data Scientist
Dubai · General Market
Data Engineer
Riyadh · Industry
Senior Data Scientist
Dubai · Regional Champion
Engineering Manager
Dubai · Vendor
Senior Platform/Cloud Engineer
Dubai · Big Tech
Engineering Manager
Dubai · Industry
Engineering Manager
Dubai · Telecom
Head of IT / IT Manager
Riyadh · Industry
Data Scientist (Mid)
Dubai · Big Tech
Cyber Security Architect
Riyadh · Industry
Staff / Principal Engineer
Dubai · General Market
Cloud Security Architect
Riyadh · Industry
IT Project Manager
Riyadh · Industry
Senior Platform/Cloud Engineer
Riyadh · Big Tech
Regional Sales Manager / Account Director
Dubai · Telecom
Data Scientist (Mid)
Riyadh · Big Tech
Professional Services Director
Dubai · Vendor
Enterprise Architect
Riyadh · Industry
Data Scientist
Riyadh · General Market
Professional Services Director
Riyadh · Vendor
Machine Learning Engineer (Mid)
Dubai · Big Tech
Pre-Sales Director
Dubai · Vendor
Data Scientist
Riyadh · Industry
Pre-Sales Director
Riyadh · Vendor
Engineering Manager
Riyadh · General Market
Machine Learning Engineer (Mid)
Riyadh · Big Tech
Head of Digital Development
Dubai · Telecom
Engineering Manager
Dubai · Big Tech
Head of Engineering
Riyadh · Startup
Senior Data Scientist / ML Engineer
Dubai · General Market
Engineering Manager
Riyadh · Big Tech
Program Manager
Riyadh · Industry
Senior Cybersecurity / CISO
Dubai · General Market
Senior Data Scientist
Dubai · Big Tech
VP Engineering / CTO
Dubai · General Market
Pre-Sales Manager
Riyadh · Telecom
Customer Project Manager
Riyadh · Telecom
Senior Data Scientist
Riyadh · Big Tech
Staff / Principal Engineer
Dubai · Big Tech
Country Manager / Regional Sales Director
Dubai · Vendor
VP of Customer Experience
Dubai · Telecom
Senior Machine Learning Engineer
Dubai · Big Tech
Cyber Security Manager
Riyadh · Industry
Digital Transformation Manager
Riyadh · Industry
Lead Enterprise Architect
Riyadh · Industry
Head of Cloud Business Unit
Riyadh · Industry
Director of Analytics
Riyadh · Industry
Senior Data Scientist / ML Engineer
Riyadh · General Market
Staff / Principal Engineer
Riyadh · Big Tech
Country Manager / Regional Sales Director
Riyadh · Vendor
IT Director
Riyadh · Industry
RF / IBS Engineer
Riyadh · Telecom
AI/ML Research Scientist
Dubai · Government
Senior Machine Learning Engineer
Riyadh · Big Tech
Program Director
Riyadh · Industry
Head of Data Science
Riyadh · Industry
AI/ML Research Scientist
Riyadh · Government
Solutions Architect
Riyadh · Telecom
Chief Technology Officer / Chief Information Officer
Dubai · Telecom
Data Governance Director
Riyadh · Industry
Chief Technology Officer / Chief Information Officer
Riyadh · Telecom
VP Engineering
Dubai · Big Tech
Vice President of Sales
Dubai · Vendor
Regional Sales Manager / Account Director
Riyadh · Telecom
Head of AI / Data
Dubai · General Market
Vice President of Sales
Riyadh · Vendor
VP of Digital Transformation
Riyadh · Industry
Head of Digital Factory
Riyadh · Industry
VP Engineering
Riyadh · Big Tech
Head of Digital Development
Riyadh · Telecom
Chief Information & Technology Officer
Riyadh · Industry
Chief Technology Officer
Dubai · Big Tech
Chief Technology Officer
Riyadh · Big Tech
VP of Customer Experience
Riyadh · Telecom
Unlock the full tech & engineering salary database
Base, bonus, housing, and total cash broken out by firm type, seniority, and market. $19/mo. Cancel anytime.
See membership optionsKey markets
Latest Tech & Engineering roles
Browse salary ranges by role and seniority. Full compensation breakdowns available to members.
Recommended reading
Career intelligence and market insights for Tech & Engineering professionals.
Free tools for Tech & Engineering professionals
Calculate your benefits and explore compensation data.
Adjacent sectors
Professionals in Tech & Engineering often move into one of these adjacent sectors. Pay and progression data for each.
What’s next on Tenure
Move on the right tech & engineering role in the Gulf
Compare compensation across firm types and seniority levels. Full salary database, salary data on every job listing, and the monthly Pay Index for $19/mo. Cancel anytime.
Unlock the Pay Index · from $14/month