Dubai – Despite continued demand for tax auditors in the UAE, job seekers in the field are facing a surprising setback: lower salary offers. Oversupply of candidates, particularly from overseas markets, is pushing down compensation levels for both entry- and mid-tier positions, even as companies continue to fill tax-related roles.
Tax professionals had enjoyed a hiring boom following the implementation of the UAE’s corporate tax regime in mid-2023. But as demand stabilizes, salaries for new hires have begun to erode. Recruiters say the market is now saturated with applicants, particularly chartered accountants from India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, many of whom are willing to accept reduced pay to gain a foothold in the UAE market.
“There is an oversupply for these roles in the UAE market,” said Ravi Jethwani, CEO of Innovations Group. “Many Indian CAs are bypassing metro cities back home and choosing to move directly to the UAE. With so many candidates available, companies can now afford to offer lower pay, even for qualified professionals.”
Reports from HR consultancies suggest that some tax auditing roles once offered for Dh8,000 per month are now being accepted for as low as Dh5,000, or even less in certain cases. The competitive pressure has led to a steep decline in salary expectations, especially for those entering the market without UAE-based experience.
Jethwani added that much of the tax work can now be managed remotely from countries where strong tax frameworks are already in place. “Roles that can be outsourced to Asia or handled offshore don’t justify the same pay levels in the UAE anymore,” he said.
A breakdown of current salary bands for tax and audit roles in the UAE shows clear downward pressure:
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Tax Managers: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
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Senior Tax Analysts: Dh15,000 to Dh20,000
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Tax Analysts: Dh8,000 to Dh12,000
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Audit Managers: Dh22,000 to Dh28,000
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Senior Audit Associates: Dh12,000 to Dh18,000
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Audit Associates: Dh6,000 to Dh12,000
The downward shift follows two years of aggressive hiring, prompted by the introduction of a 9% corporate tax rate in the UAE in June 2023. As companies scrambled to meet compliance and registration deadlines, tax professionals were in short supply, and well-compensated. But now, with initial groundwork largely complete, the hiring landscape is settling into a more stable phase.
“Demand for tax auditors is now entering a more normalized phase,” said Kush Ahuja, Head of ACCA for the Middle East and Eurasia. “But that doesn’t mean tax professionals are any less valuable. In fact, with regulations becoming more stringent, such as under UAE Ministerial Decision No. 84, expertise in financial reporting and audit readiness is still crucial.”
Ahuja acknowledged the recent decline in compensation offers but noted the long-term value of tax specialization. “While we’re hearing that some salary packages may have levelled off after the initial spike, the long-term outlook for tax professionals in the UAE remains strong, especially for those with the right mix of technical, regulatory, and digital skills.”
As the UAE continues to build a sophisticated tax infrastructure, industry insiders believe that skilled professionals will remain in demand. However, in the short term, the glut of applicants and the increasing availability of remote audit services could continue to exert downward pressure on local salaries.
