Chief Operating Officer
Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. In the GCC market, this role is actively hired across Bahrain, Saudi, UAE with 12 recent postings.
A Chief Operating Officer in the GCC region requires leadership, communication, compliance, Excel, ERP. Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. This role is in demand across the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Salary across the GCC
Monthly gross median in local currency, by country × seniority.
| Country | Junior | Mid-Level | Senior | Lead / Principal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 63,000 AED | 108,500 AED | 168,500 AED | 233,500 AED |
| Saudi Arabia | 60,000 SAR | 103,500 SAR | 161,000 SAR | 223,000 SAR |
| Qatar | 66,000 QAR | 113,500 QAR | 176,000 QAR | 244,500 QAR |
| Kuwait | 5,150 KWD | 8,900 KWD | 13,800 KWD | 19,100 KWD |
| Oman | 5,750 OMR | 9,900 OMR | 15,300 OMR | 21,250 OMR |
| Bahrain | 5,450 BHD | 9,400 BHD | 14,550 BHD | 20,200 BHD |
How Chief Operating Officer pay varies in the UAE
UAE · mid-level · monthly gross in AED
Modelled from 500 market signals (Michael Page, Cooper Fitch & Hays surveys + Tabbio posting data) · updated June 15, 2026 · How we estimate
By company size
Median compensation varies with headcount.
Top-paying industries
Median for this role, ranked by sector.
Estimates modelled from GCC pay surveys and live posting volume — a directional guide, not a live salary feed.
Top hiring companies
- OKX
- IBMC
- APM Terminals
- cander
- Talc Management
- REFCON GENERAL TRADING LLC
Active markets
- bahrain
- saudi
- uae
- 01
Strategic & Operational Leadership Translate the group’s strategic vision into measurable operational frameworks and goals. Define and manage group
- 02
time operational dashboards. Cross
- 03
performing operations and mid
- 04
driven insights and performance analysis to guide decision
- 05
making. Support due diligence and investor relations with operational reporting and risk assessments. KPIs ERP system researched, selected, and implemented within agreed timeframe and budget Group
- 06
wide SOP coverage and adoption rate Operational efficiency gains (turnaround time, cost
- 07
revenue ratio, process automation) Cross
- 08
Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.
What is the average Chief Operating Officer salary in the UAE?
The median monthly gross salary for a mid-level Chief Operating Officer in the UAE is estimated from sample Gulf pay data. The figures scale with seniority — juniors earn roughly 55-60% of the mid level, seniors about 1.5×, and leads/principals close to 2×.
Which GCC country pays Chief Operating Officer salaries the most?
Qatar and the UAE typically lead for Chief Operating Officer salaries, with Saudi Arabia close behind. Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman pay in local currency but the gross AED-equivalent is usually somewhat lower.
Are these figures gross or net?
All numbers are monthly gross base pay — before housing or transport allowances, bonuses, or statutory deductions. GCC payroll typically has no income tax for residents, so gross and net are close for most expats.
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