Domestic help, Tadbeer centres and household worker visas in the UAE

The short version

Hiring a domestic worker in the UAE, whether a nanny, housekeeper, cook, gardener, driver or similar role, runs through MOHRE. An employer can sponsor a worker directly, or use a Tadbeer centre, a MOHRE-licensed private recruitment service, to find and place one. Either way, the employer has to meet MOHRE's conditions and pay the federal fees.

What Tadbeer actually is

Tadbeer is a brand MOHRE licenses to private franchisees, who operate recruitment centres "on behalf of the Ministry" under a public-private partnership, per MOHRE's own page. A Tadbeer centre can:

• Receive and forward an employer's application digitally to MOHRE.
• Supply a live-in or daycare domestic worker on weekly, monthly or yearly terms.
• Arrange medical exams, residence permit and ID processing, airport pickup, transport and health insurance.
• Run pre-recruitment interviews, training and worker preparation.
• Provide a support channel for disputes between employer and worker.

MOHRE's own page does not say that every domestic worker hire must go through a Tadbeer centre rather than direct sponsorship. It describes Tadbeer as a recruitment and support channel, not a mandatory gateway. Treat any claim that "you must use Tadbeer" with caution unless you have confirmed it against a current MOHRE source for your specific situation.

Who can sponsor a domestic worker directly

MOHRE's work-permit service page sets out conditions for an employer who wants to recruit a domestic worker, whether from inside or outside the UAE. The income requirement specifically applies to an expatriate employer or investor, not to a UAE or GCC citizen employer, whose own listed documents on the same page are just a passport and ID card:

• A valid passport and residence permit (for resident employers or investors).
• Proof of housing, such as a lease or title deed (expatriate employer or investor).
• A monthly income of at least AED 25,000 for an expatriate employer (shown through a salary certificate) or investor/employer (shown through three months of bank statements). The page does not list an equivalent income figure for a citizen employer.
• Written justification if the employer already has more than five domestic workers.

The worker, in turn, must be 18 or older, generally under 60, hold a passport valid for at least three months, not already hold a work permit, and be covered by adequate insurance on the employer's file.

Fees, by emirate and employer type

MOHRE's own fee tables for the domestic-worker work permit and employment contract (excluding tax and collection charges) show:

A business-centre commission, where one is used, is capped at AED 72. Apart from the federal charges above, MOHRE's own service is free through its website and app.

Employer obligations once hired

Per MOHRE's own employment-contract page, an employer must:

• Keep their own passport, ID and residence permit valid throughout.
• Ensure the worker's passport stays valid for at least three months.
• Pay the prescribed federal fees.
• Provide medical insurance for the worker. MOHRE's page states this is specifically required "in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai."
• Complete any shortfalls MOHRE or the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security flags during processing.

A written employment contract, signed by both employer and worker, is a required document for the process.

General consumer information only, not legal advice. Immigration and employment rules can change and can vary by emirate, so check the latest official guidance for your specific circumstances.