UAE residents can sponsor domestic workers — including housemaids, drivers, nannies, and cooks — under a separate domestic worker visa regulated by MOHRE. Here is a complete guide.
Domestic Worker Visa Requirements for the Sponsor
To sponsor a domestic worker in the UAE, the sponsor must: hold a valid UAE residence visa, earn a minimum monthly salary (varies by emirate): Dubai: AED 6,000/month, Abu Dhabi: AED 5,000/month, other emirates: AED 4,000–5,000/month, have a suitable accommodation (separate room for the domestic worker), and be the head of a household (not a company sponsoring domestic workers, unless the company is a domestic worker recruitment agency).
How to Hire a Domestic Worker in the UAE
Option 1 — Hire through a MOHRE-licensed agency: The agency recruits the worker (often from India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, or Ethiopia), arranges the entry permit, and the sponsor pays the agency placement fee (AED 7,000–20,000 depending on nationality and skills). Option 2 — Direct sponsorship (transfer): if a domestic worker is already in UAE on a different sponsor’s visa and wants to transfer, the new sponsor pays the current sponsor an agreed transfer fee (AED 3,000–8,000) and applies for a visa transfer via MOHRE Tadbeer Centre. Annual cost to the sponsor: accommodation (implied), MOHRE insurance (AED 720/year mandatory domestic worker insurance), and typical salary: AED 1,200–3,500/month depending on nationality and role.
Domestic Worker Rights Under UAE Law
The UAE Domestic Workers Law (Federal Law No. 10 of 2017) guarantees domestic workers: 1 day off per week, 30 days annual leave, 30 days paid sick leave, end-of-service gratuity (1 month’s salary per year of service after 1 year), and MOHRE complaint mechanism if rights are violated.