Virtual assistant vs full-time employee in Dubai: the real cost comparison (2025)

The true cost of a full-time employee in Dubai

When you hire a full-time administrative assistant in Dubai, the base salary (typically 8,000 to 12,000 AED/month) is just the beginning. Here's what most founders don't factor in:

• Visa and labor card: 5,000 to 7,000 AED one-time, plus annual renewals
• Health insurance: 5,000 to 12,000 AED/year (mandatory in Dubai)
• Office space: A single desk in a coworking space costs 2,000 to 5,000 AED/month
• Equipment: Laptop, phone, software licenses, 5,000 to 10,000 AED upfront
• End-of-service gratuity: 21 days' salary per year (UAE labor law)
• Recruitment fees: Agencies charge 1 to 2 months' salary

Total real cost: 15,000 to 25,000 AED/month when you amortize all expenses. And that's before accounting for vacation days, sick leave, and training time.

What a virtual assistant costs in comparison

A Taskbird virtual assistant starts at 1,250 AED/month for 20 hours. Here's what you get without any hidden costs:

• No visa or sponsorship required
• No office space needed - they work remotely
• No equipment costs - they use their own setup
• No gratuity obligations
• No recruitment fees
• Monthly contracts with 30-day notice

Side by side comparison

When does a full-time hire make more sense?

A virtual assistant isn't always the answer. A full-time employee might be better when:

• You need someone physically present (reception, warehouse, retail)
• The role requires deep institutional knowledge built over years
• You're managing highly confidential financial or legal documents

But for administrative tasks, email management, calendar scheduling, CRM updates, social media, and research, a virtual assistant delivers the same output at a fraction of the cost.

The bottom line for UAE founders

If you're spending 15,000+ AED/month on an admin hire in Dubai, you could get the same (or better) output from a Taskbird virtual assistant at 1,250 to 4,800 AED/month. That's a potential saving of 10,000 to 20,000 AED every single month.

Our assistants work during UAE business hours (GMT+4), speak fluent English, and come pre-vetted with professional experience. No visa, no office, no hassle.