If you hire domestic workers across more than one GCC country — family offices, multi-emirate households, expat families relocating between Gulf countries — you need a single reference for verifying recruitment agency licences in each country. This is that reference. One page, six countries, five steps per country, all the official links.
The 5-step pattern is the same everywhere
Across all six GCC countries, the verification pattern is identical:
- Ask the agency for its government licence number.
- Verify it on the official regulator's register.
- Call the regulator hotline to confirm current "Active" status.
- Cross-reference on gccdomestic.com.
- Reject cash-only or non-standard contract terms.
What changes country-by-country: the regulator name, the register URL, the hotline number, and a small number of country-specific quirks.
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates — MOHRE Tadbeer
- Regulator: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
- Brand: Tadbeer (240+ licensed centres)
- Register URL: mohre.gov.ae/en/services/approved-services-centers-new1/
- Hotline: 600-590-000 (English/Arabic)
- Standard contract: MOHRE-prescribed bilingual template
- 6-month replacement warranty: Mandatory under MOHRE rules
- Detailed guide: Tadbeer 2026 Guide | 5-step verification article
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia — Musaned (HRSD)
- Regulator: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD)
- Platform: Musaned (1,400+ licensed offices)
- Register URL: musaned.com.sa
- Standard contract: Musaned platform, bilingual, 2-year default
- 2026 update: Mandatory e-salary payment via WPS from 1 January 2026 — cash payments no longer legal
- Detailed guide: Musaned 2026 Guide | WPS mandate explainer
🇰🇼 Kuwait — Public Authority for Manpower (PAM)
- Regulator: Public Authority for Manpower (PAM)
- Register URL: manpower.gov.kw
- Hotline: 103 (Arabic primary, basic English)
- Standard contract: PAM template, bilingual
- 2015 law: Domestic Workers Law No. 68 — all placements must go through licensed offices
- Detailed guide: 5-step PAM verification
🇶🇦 Qatar — Ministry of Labour (MOL)
- Regulator: Qatar Ministry of Labour (MOL)
- Register URL: mol.gov.qa (search "List of Registered Recruitment Agencies" PDF)
- Last update: December 2024, quarterly refresh
- Standard contract: Post-2022 reformed labour contract
- Qatar-specific tip: Verify the agency's source-country partners, not just the Qatari licence — source-country fraud is the biggest gap
- Detailed guide: 5-step Qatar MOL verification
🇧🇭 Bahrain — Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA)
- Regulator: Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA)
- Register URL: lmra.gov.bh (real-time, not PDF)
- Standard contract: LMRA-prescribed bilingual template
- 2026 update: Only Bahraini citizens can hold the office-manager position (Decision No. 1 of 2026)
- Bahrain strength: LMRA is the most digital GCC regulator — real-time portal, fastest inspection response (48 hours)
- Detailed guide: 5-step LMRA verification
🇴🇲 Oman — Ministry of Labour (MOL)
- Regulator: Oman Ministry of Labour (MOL)
- Register URL: mol.gov.om
- Standard contract: MOL bilingual template, OMR-denominated
- 2025 update: Association of Expatriate Labour Recruitment Agencies created under Ministerial Decision No. 405/2025 — adds an extra trust check (ask if the office is a member)
- Detailed guide: 5-step Oman MOL verification
The single biggest cross-country tip
One rule applies in all six countries: never pay in cash, never sign a verbal-only agreement, and never wire money to a personal bank account. Every legitimate GCC recruitment agency uses official bank channels, prescribed contracts, and itemised receipts. The single most reliable signal that an office is not legitimate is when they push for cash or off-contract terms.
For the full 2026 picture
The complete 2026 GCC Domestic Worker Salary Report covers all six countries with verified salary ranges, fee structures, and methodology. Free to cite. Read the full report.
