diff --git a/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json b/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json
index 4f425b78c40..50d16b6a324 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json
+++ b/packages/frontend/@n8n/i18n/src/locales/en.json
@@ -3062,7 +3062,7 @@
 	"variables.empty.button": "Add first variable",
 	"variables.empty.button.disabled.tooltip": "Your current role in the project does not allow you to create variables",
 	"variables.empty.notAllowedToCreate.heading": "{name}, start using variables",
-	"variables.empty.notAllowedToCreate.description": "Ask your n8n instance owner to create the variables you need. Once configured, you can utilize them in your workflows using the syntax $vars.MY_VAR.",
+	"variables.empty.notAllowedToCreate.description": "Ask project editors or instance admin to create the variables you need. Once configured, you can utilize them in your workflows using the syntax $vars.MY_VAR.",
 	"variables.filters.active": "Some variables may be hidden since filters are applied.",
 	"variables.filters.active.reset": "Remove filters",
 	"variables.noResults": "No variables found",
diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/collaboration/projects/components/ProjectHeader.test.ts b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/collaboration/projects/components/ProjectHeader.test.ts
index a0f4cf5c5f7..abafd2ca8e0 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/collaboration/projects/components/ProjectHeader.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/collaboration/projects/components/ProjectHeader.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ import { waitFor, within } from '@testing-library/vue';
 import { useSettingsStore } from '@/app/stores/settings.store';
 import { useProjectPages } from '@/features/collaboration/projects/composables/useProjectPages';
 import { useUIStore } from '@/app/stores/ui.store';
+import { useUsersStore } from '@/features/settings/users/users.store';
+import { mock } from 'vitest-mock-extended';
+import type { IUser } from '@n8n/rest-api-client';
 
 const mockPush = vi.fn();
 vi.mock('vue-router', async () => {
@@ -76,6 +79,7 @@ let projectsStore: ReturnType<typeof mockedStore<typeof useProjectsStore>>;
 let settingsStore: ReturnType<typeof mockedStore<typeof useSettingsStore>>;
 let uiStore: ReturnType<typeof mockedStore<typeof useUIStore>>;
 let projectPages: ReturnType<typeof useProjectPages>;
+let usersStore: ReturnType<typeof mockedStore<typeof useUsersStore>>;
 
 describe('ProjectHeader', () => {
 	beforeEach(() => {
@@ -83,6 +87,7 @@ describe('ProjectHeader', () => {
 		route = router.useRoute();
 		projectsStore = mockedStore(useProjectsStore);
 		settingsStore = mockedStore(useSettingsStore);
+		usersStore = mockedStore(useUsersStore);
 		uiStore = mockedStore(useUIStore);
 		projectPages = useProjectPages();
 
@@ -527,5 +532,39 @@ describe('ProjectHeader', () => {
 				}),
 			);
 		});
+
+		it('should enable variable create button if project scope allows it', () => {
+			const project = createTestProject({
+				scopes: ['projectVariable:create'],
+			});
+			projectsStore.currentProject = project;
+
+			const { getByTestId } = renderComponent({ props: { mainButton: 'variable' } });
+
+			expect(getByTestId('add-resource-variable')).toBeInTheDocument();
+			expect(getByTestId('add-resource-variable')).toBeEnabled();
+		});
+
+		it('should enable create variable button if global scope allows it', () => {
+			usersStore.currentUser = mock<IUser>({
+				globalScopes: ['variable:create'],
+			});
+
+			const { getByTestId } = renderComponent({ props: { mainButton: 'variable' } });
+
+			expect(getByTestId('add-resource-variable')).toBeInTheDocument();
+			expect(getByTestId('add-resource-variable')).toBeEnabled();
+		});
+
+		it('should not enable variable create button if no scope allows it', () => {
+			const project = createTestProject({
+				scopes: [],
+			});
+			projectsStore.currentProject = project;
+
+			const { queryByTestId } = renderComponent({ props: { mainButton: 'variable' } });
+
+			expect(queryByTestId('add-resource-variable')).toBeDisabled();
+		});
 	});
 });
diff --git a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/collaboration/projects/components/ProjectHeader.vue b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/collaboration/projects/components/ProjectHeader.vue
index 8c90b5b200b..c03f92df8bc 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/collaboration/projects/components/ProjectHeader.vue
+++ b/packages/frontend/editor-ui/src/features/collaboration/projects/components/ProjectHeader.vue
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@ const projectName = computed(() => {
 const projectPermissions = computed(
 	() => getResourcePermissions(projectsStore.currentProject?.scopes).project,
 );
-const globalPermissions = computed(
+const projectVariablePermissions = computed(
+	() => getResourcePermissions(projectsStore.currentProject?.scopes).projectVariable,
+);
+const globalVariablesPermissions = computed(
 	() => getResourcePermissions(usersStore.currentUser?.globalScopes).variable,
 );
 
@@ -164,7 +167,7 @@ const createVariableButton = computed(() => ({
 	size: 'mini' as const,
 	disabled:
 		sourceControlStore.preferences.branchReadOnly ||
-		(!projectPermissions.value.create && !globalPermissions.value.create),
+		(!projectVariablePermissions.value.create && !globalVariablesPermissions.value.create),
 }));
 
 const selectedMainButtonType = computed(() => props.mainButton ?? ACTION_TYPES.WORKFLOW);