Dubai / Abu Dhabi sub-market · Rank #10 of 10 for this discipline
Statistical arbitrage in Dubai / Abu Dhabi
What is the statistical arbitrage market like in Dubai / Abu Dhabi?
Dubai / Abu Dhabi is a secondary centre for statistical arbitrage, with demand concentrated in a smaller set of desks. Statistical arbitrage trades large baskets of related instruments on mean-reversion and relative-value relationships identified statistically. It is the classic quant research discipline and the deepest employer of doctoral researchers. Typical holding horizon is intraday to weeks, hiring concentrates on quant researcher, quant developer, systematic portfolio manager, and 4 of the firms we track run a Dubai / Abu Dhabi desk. Pay sits at roughly 88% of the New York benchmark for the equivalent role and seniority, quoted in AED.
Statistical arbitrage compensation in Dubai / Abu Dhabi
Mid-level total compensation for the roles this discipline hires, in AED.
| Role | Range | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Quant Researcher | AED 743k – AED 8.1m | AED 1.5m |
| Quant Developer | AED 581k – AED 3.9m | AED 1.1m |
| Systematic Portfolio Manager | AED 1.8m – AED 55m | AED 4.6m |
Methodology
Figures are expressed as annual total compensation (base salary plus expected performance bonus) in the reference market's local currency, converted from a US dollar base. They describe typical market ranges rather than any individual offer, and exclude sign-on payments, deferred equity and carried interest. Portfolio-manager figures reflect formulaic profit-share arrangements and are therefore far more dispersed than any other role.
KnowQaunt 2026.1 · Updated September 2026
These are indicative ranges pending first-party verification. They will be replaced by verified submissions as the Quant Salary Index dataset builds.
Dubai / Abu Dhabi · Statistical arbitrage · KnowQaunt 2026.1