Hiring a maid in Dubai through a licensed domestic worker services centre starts with defining your household requirements, reviewing suitable candidates, interviewing your preferred options and completing the required recruitment and employment steps.
We are a MOHRE-licensed domestic worker services centre in Dubai. We help families with candidate matching, interviews, recruitment administration, relevant travel arrangements and ongoing support. The exact documentation and sponsorship process depends on the recruitment arrangement and the domestic worker’s circumstances.
What Is a Licensed Domestic Worker Services Centre?
A licensed domestic worker services centre is authorised to provide domestic worker services within the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) framework.
MOHRE lists us in Dubai as EXPAT MAIDS WORKERS SERVICES CENTER on its approved domestic worker services centre list. Using an approved centre gives you a regulated route for domestic worker recruitment and a formal service arrangement that sets out the agreed scope, fees and responsibilities.
The UAE domestic worker framework requires recruitment and employment to follow the applicable licensing, contract and work-authorisation requirements.
How Does Maid Recruitment Through a Licensed Services Centre Work?
The recruitment process follows seven main stages:
Define the role and household requirements.
Share those requirements with us.
Review suitable candidate profiles.
Interview shortlisted candidates.
Select your preferred candidate.
Complete the required recruitment and employment documentation.
Complete the relevant travel and arrival steps.
The administrative stages after selection depend on the worker’s location, immigration status and the applicable sponsorship route.
Step 1 — Decide What You Need From a Maid
Before reviewing candidates, define the work the role needs to cover. This helps us focus on candidates whose experience fits your household requirements.
Consider your household size, working arrangement, preferred start date and expected duties. These can include housekeeping, laundry, cooking, childcare, pet care or support for an older family member.
For childcare, consider the ages of your children and the candidate’s previous experience with similar responsibilities. For cooking, discuss the types of meals and level of meal preparation expected.
Language requirements should connect to a genuine household need. Assess each candidate on individual experience, communication and the responsibilities of the role. Nationality should not be treated as evidence of work ethic, childcare ability, cooking skills, personality or communication level.
Step 2 — Share Your Requirements With Us
Your household brief gives us the information needed to identify suitable candidates for you to consider.
Useful information includes:
Household composition
Main duties
Relevant previous experience
Childcare or elderly-care experience where required
Cooking or housekeeping requirements
Working arrangement
Preferred start date
Communication requirements connected to the role
We use these requirements to support candidate matching and present profiles for your review. You can also explore our candidate profiles when considering available options.
A focused brief helps you prepare interview questions based on the work the candidate would perform.
Step 3 — Review and Interview Candidates
You can review candidate profiles and interview shortlisted candidates by video before making your selection.
Use the interview to compare the candidate’s previous duties and experience with your household requirements. Useful questions include:
Which household duties were part of your previous role?
What experience do you have with children of similar ages?
What types of meals have you prepared?
Have you worked in a household with pets?
What responsibilities did you handle independently?
What working arrangement are you looking for?
When are you available to start?
Explain the main duties, household routine and working arrangement as well. The candidate should understand the proposed role before recruitment proceeds.
UAE domestic worker law prohibits discrimination on grounds including race, colour, gender, religion, nationality and disability where it affects equal employment opportunities or rights. Candidate selection should focus on the role requirements and the individual’s experience.
Step 4 — Complete the Recruitment and Employment Requirements
After you choose a candidate, the relevant recruitment and employment documentation must be completed before employment begins.
Under the UAE domestic worker framework, a recruitment contract is concluded between the recruitment office and the employer. It covers the employer’s requirements, recruitment-related financial commitments, service fees and the timeframe for completing recruitment.
The employer must also enter into an employment contract with the domestic worker using the Ministry-approved framework. A domestic worker must hold a valid work permit before undertaking the work covered by the contract.
The exact administrative process depends on the recruitment route and the worker’s status. Before payment, confirm the employment and sponsorship structure that applies to the selected service and which charges are included in the agreement.
For a deeper explanation of the different sponsorship routes, read our guide to maid visa and sponsorship in Dubai.
Step 5 — Complete Medical, Travel and Arrival Requirements
Overseas recruitment includes additional requirements before the domestic worker travels to the UAE.
UAE Government guidance requires recruitment offices to arrange the required pre-entry medical examination and give the domestic worker information about the nature of the work and employment conditions before entry.
For overseas recruitment, we support the relevant travel arrangements, documentation and arrival coordination included in the agreed service. Source-country requirements differ, so we confirm the applicable process for the selected candidate before travel is arranged.
Can You Choose and Interview Your Own Maid?
Yes. With our maid recruitment service, you can review candidate profiles and interview shortlisted candidates before selecting who you want to recruit.
This gives you an opportunity to assess relevant experience, communication and expectations before the administrative stages proceed.
How Much Does Maid Recruitment Cost in Dubai?
Our current one-time maid recruitment fees are:
Philippines: AED 12,000
Kenya: AED 6,500
Uganda: AED 6,500
Ethiopia: AED 5,000
Indonesia: AED 15,000
All recruitment fees are subject to 5% VAT, and prices can vary according to specific recruitment requirements. For recruitment from the Philippines, additional POLO/OWWA attestation is listed separately.
Our recruitment packages include recruitment and screening, the initial medical examination and pregnancy test, orientation on UAE laws, travel clearance, the flight to the UAE and contract attestations.
Before you proceed, we confirm the applicable fee, package inclusions and any separate government or third-party charges for your selected recruitment route.
What Happens If the Placement Ends Early?
Any replacement or refund entitlement depends on the conditions in the service contract for your placement and applicable UAE requirements.
Our Terms and Conditions state that replacement guarantees, where applicable, are subject to the conditions, timeframes and exclusions in the individual service contract. Amounts already paid to government bodies or third parties are non-refundable.
Review these terms before payment so you know what applies if the employment arrangement ends.
Recruitment Service vs Full-Time Maid Service
Our recruitment service and our full-time maid service use different employment and sponsorship structures.
Because these services use different structures, compare their fees and inclusions separately.
For help with domestic worker sponsorship and visa processing, see our maid visa service.
What Should You Check Before Choosing a Maid Recruitment Service?
Before signing a recruitment agreement, verify that the provider is licensed and review the service terms in detail.
Check:
Candidate-selection and interview process
Recruitment fee and VAT
Included and separate charges
Employment and sponsorship structure
Recruitment timeframe
Travel and documentation support
Replacement or refund conditions
Support after selection
You can check a provider against MOHRE’s approved domestic worker services centre list before proceeding.
How We Help You Recruit a Maid in Dubai
We help you define your household requirements, review candidate profiles, arrange video interviews and coordinate the agreed recruitment documentation and travel support.
We also explain the service structure that applies before you proceed, so you can distinguish direct recruitment from our full-time sponsored maid service and our separate visa services.
Looking for a Maid in Dubai?
If you want to hire a maid in Dubai through a licensed services centre, start by deciding which duties, experience and working arrangement your household needs.
Explore our maid recruitment service to review the recruitment process and candidate options. Our team can explain the applicable recruitment route, current service terms and next steps for the candidate you select.
