Hiring help at home can make daily life in Dubai far easier, especially for working parents and larger families. But domestic work is regulated in the UAE, and hiring someone informally, on a visit visa, or through an unlicensed agent is illegal and can lead to fines and real problems if anything goes wrong. The good news is that the legal route is well organised. This guide explains the approved channels, the paperwork involved, the typical costs, and your responsibilities as an employer, so you can hire properly and with peace of mind.
Use the legal routes only
There are two main ways to hire domestic help legally in Dubai:
- Tadbeer service centres: government-licensed centres that handle recruitment, visas and paperwork for domestic workers. They can arrange a worker under the centre’s sponsorship on a monthly package, or help you sponsor a worker directly.
- Licensed recruitment agencies: agencies approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) that recruit housemaids, nannies, drivers, cooks and other domestic staff, often from countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sri Lanka.
How the hiring process works
If you sponsor a worker directly, the usual steps are an entry permit, the worker’s arrival or status change, a medical fitness test, Emirates ID biometrics, health insurance, signing the official domestic worker contract, and then the residence visa being issued. Tadbeer centres and licensed agencies normally manage these steps for you and track the file with the authorities.
Before you commit, interview the candidate properly. Agree the duties in plain terms: cleaning, cooking, childcare, laundry, hours, and days off, and put those expectations in writing from day one.
What it typically costs
Costs change over time and vary by nationality, experience and route, so treat the figures below as a rough guide and confirm current prices with MOHRE or a Tadbeer centre before you budget.
- Agency monthly packages: where the centre or agency remains the sponsor, expect roughly AED 3,000 to AED 5,000 per month as an all-in package, depending on the worker and the provider.
- Direct sponsorship set-up: recruitment fees, entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance and visa costs can add up to several thousand dirhams in the first year, on top of salary.
- Monthly salary: commonly around AED 1,200 to AED 2,500 or more, depending on nationality, experience and duties. Some source countries set reference minimum salaries for their citizens.
- Living costs: if the worker lives with you, you also provide accommodation, food, toiletries and transport for official errands.
Your responsibilities as an employer
UAE domestic worker law gives workers clear rights, and good employers treat them as a baseline, not a favour. A worker is entitled to a weekly rest day, paid annual leave of 30 days, proper rest breaks during the day and adequate uninterrupted sleep at night, medical insurance, and their salary paid in full and on time. You must never keep a worker’s passport against their will, and you should help them keep their own documents, phone and bank access.
Fair treatment also protects you. A worker who is rested, paid fairly and treated with respect is far more likely to stay, and high turnover is the most expensive outcome of all because you repeat the recruitment and visa costs every time someone leaves.
Agency package or direct sponsorship?
Monthly packages through a centre cost more each month but are simpler: the provider handles the visa, insurance, salary processing and replacement if the worker leaves or the match fails. Direct sponsorship usually works out cheaper over two years and gives you a stable, long-term arrangement, but you carry the paperwork and the responsibility yourself. Many families start with a package for flexibility, then move to direct sponsorship once they have found the right person.
Before you sign anything
- Check the agency or centre is licensed, and ask for the licence details.
- Read the contract, including replacement and refund terms if the worker leaves early.
- Agree duties, working hours, rest day and salary in writing.
- Confirm who pays for the medical test, Emirates ID, insurance and return ticket.
- Plan the worker’s room, food and weekly schedule before they arrive.
Done properly, hiring domestic help in Dubai is a straightforward, regulated process. Use licensed channels, budget honestly, and treat your worker fairly, and the arrangement will work well for everyone in the household.