The hiring of domestic workers in the UAE is common for families that need assistance with housekeeping, childcare, and elderly care. One of the first questions that arises when you are considering a full-time maid, a nanny, or even a babysitter is: What are the visa expenses?
This depends on your location in the UAE. Visa charges for domestic workers vary between Dubai and other Emirates, and the process is slightly different. To simplify the situation, we should consider the main details and facts, including the role of Tadbeer Centers, which have gained popularity as the most reliable solution when families want to hire domestic help in Dubai.
Maid Visa in Dubai: Costs and Requirements
In Dubai, the maid visa is controlled by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). If you intend to sponsor a maid directly, the costs you must consider are:
- Application and typing charges: AED 200–300
- Expatriate visa fees: Around AED 5,000–6,000 (based on classification and duration)
- Medical fitness test: AED 300–400
- Emirates ID registration: AED 200–300
- Health insurance: AED 500–700 per year (mandatory)
Overall, the cost of sponsoring a maid visa cost in Dubai generally amounts to between AED 7,000 and AED 10,000 a year, not including the maid’s monthly salary. Salaries normally depend on nationality and experience, ranging from AED 1,500 up to AED 3,500 or more.
Families are also required to provide accommodation, food, and a return ticket home every two years.
What is The Difference between Maid Visa in Other Emirates?
Other than in Dubai, visa sponsorship is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security. The steps are similar, although there may be some cost differences and variations in documentation.
For example:
- Fees for visa issuance: AED 4,000–5,000
- Medical fitness test and Emirates ID: Similar to Dubai (about AED 500–700 in total)
- Insurance: Compulsory, with charges varying depending on the insurer and Emirate
The total cost in other Emirates tends to average AED 6,000–8,000 annually, which is lower than in Dubai.
The conditions of sponsorship are also the same: a sponsor must earn no less than a minimum monthly salary (AED 6,000–10,000), and only certain relatives can be sponsors.
Babysitters and Nannies: What About Them?
Many families compare the advantages of employing a babysitter versus a full-time nanny when it comes to childcare. Here’s how it usually works:
- Babysitters: Normally employed on a part-time or hourly basis. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a part-time babysitter cannot be directly sponsored. Instead, families hire through licensed agencies, with pay ranging from AED 30 to AED 60 per hour.
- Nannies: In the case you wish to hire a live-in nanny, you will follow the same process as sponsoring a maid. The salaries of nannies tend to be higher than those of maids, as nannies earn between AED 2,000 and AED 4,000 monthly depending on experience and qualifications (preferably childcare or teaching experience).
Tadbeer Centers: Simplifying the Hiring Process in Dubai
To a great extent, the employment of domestic workers in Dubai has been transformed because of Tadbeer Centers. Introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), these government-approved centers provide standardized services, making the process easier and more transparent.
Tadbeer offers the following:
- Pre-screened domestic help: Nannies, maids, and babysitters who are legally cleared to work
- Visa processing: Tadbeer prepares the paperwork, visa applications, medicals, and insurance
- Flexible hiring: Families can hire on a full-time, live-in basis or even part-time (e.g., 4 hours a day)
- Package transparency: Prices are clearly declared, with full-time maid contracts under Tadbeer costing AED 20,000–25,000 a year, including wages, insurance, and end-of-service benefits
Tadbeer provides a convenient, though sometimes more costly, option for families who do not want to handle the sponsorship process themselves.
Final Thoughts
Many families here consider employing a maid, nanny or babysitter in the UAE a practical choice but, before making that choice, you will need to compute the costs associated with the visa process. Fees in Dubai are usually slightly higher, but Tadbeer Centers make the process easy and ensure it is handled legally. The requirements are similar across the Emirates, although costs outside Dubai may be lower.
Families will be able to make a decision by comparing the costs and taking into consideration the role of services providing agencies such as Tadbeer, balancing between the budget, convenience, and peace of mind.
