Hiring a housemaid, nanny, cook, driver or caregiver works differently in each Gulf country - different regulator, platform, currency and fees - but the journey is the same everywhere: issue the visa, renew it, cancel it, or transfer the worker. This is your single starting point for all six: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. Compare them below, then open the full step-by-step guide for your country. Prefer to skip the paperwork? Our team can connect you with a verified licensed office in any GCC country - that option is at the end.
⚡ The 6 GCC countries compared (2026)
| Country | Regulator & platform | Login | Typical all-in cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪 UAE | MOHRE - app / mohre.gov.ae | UAE Pass | AED 5,000-7,000 | Permit ~1 day |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | MHRSD - Musaned | Absher / Nafath | SAR 7,700-21,300 | 3-10 days |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | MADLSA + MOI - Metrash2 | QID / Metrash2 | QAR 4,200-12,000 | Varies |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | PAM - Ashal | Civil ID | KWD 150 permit + costs | 4-8 weeks |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | LMRA - EMS | EMS account | BHD 86 (local) / 586 (expat) | ~3 days |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | Ministry of Labour | SANAD / ID | RO 201 permit + costs | Permit 24 mo |
Costs are typical 2026 ranges (government fees plus, where shown, the recruitment package) and vary by nationality and family size. Open each country guide for the exact breakdown.
📂 Open your country’s full guide
Each guide is a complete, plain-English walkthrough - issue, renew, cancel and transfer, with documents, fees and timelines.
Issue/renew/cancel online with UAE Pass, or have it done for you. Open the UAE guide →
Recruit, renew and transfer via Musaned & Absher. Open the Saudi Arabia guide →
Apply through an approved agency; visa via Metrash2. Open the Qatar guide →
Apply on the Ashal platform with your Civil ID. Open the Kuwait guide →
Do it all on the LMRA EMS portal - the most complete online system. Open the Bahrain guide →
Apply via a SANAD office; residence through Royal Oman Police. Open the Oman guide →
✅ What’s the same across the GCC
Wherever you are in the Gulf, these rules hold:
- Recruitment goes through a government-licensed office (Tadbeer, Musaned, employment office, etc.) - never an unlicensed broker.
- The worker needs a medical-fitness test and a written, official contract.
- The employer cannot hold the worker’s passport - it is illegal in every GCC state.
- Salary should be paid through a wage-protection system (WPS), on time, every month.
- You must formally cancel the permit when the worker leaves - or you stay legally liable.
↔️ What differs between countries
UAE Pass + MOHRE, Musaned + Absher, LMRA EMS, PAM Ashal, Qatar Metrash2, Oman SANAD - each has its own login and portal.
From a low government permit in Bahrain/Kuwait to larger all-in packages in Saudi Arabia - and every country prices in its own currency.
Income thresholds vary, and some - notably Oman - require a marriage certificate and generally do not let a single man sponsor a female worker.
The UAE leans on Tadbeer centres; the others run through licensed recruitment/employment offices tied to the national platform.
🧭 The universal 4-step path
Pick your country above and follow its exact steps, documents and fees.
Apply on the national platform or through a government-licensed office; the official contract is generated.
The worker completes the medical, the entry visa is issued, and the contract is signed/attested.
Finish the residence permit/ID and set up salary through the wage-protection system.
💬 One message, any GCC country
Tell our assistant Nadia on WhatsApp which country you’re in and what you need - issue, renew, cancel or transfer - and we’ll connect you with a verified government-licensed office in that country and guide you through every step. You only approve your own login and pay the official fees - we never ask for your password or hold your money.
Frequently asked questions
Which GCC country is cheapest to hire a domestic worker?
Government permit fees are lowest in Bahrain and Kuwait, but the all-in cost depends mostly on the recruitment package and nationality. Open each country guide for the full breakdown.
Which country is fastest?
The UAE issues the work permit in about a day and Bahrain in roughly three; Kuwait can take 4-8 weeks for a new hire.
Can I move my worker from one GCC country to another?
No - each country’s visa is separate. You cancel the permit in the first country and apply for a new one in the second. Transfers only work between employers within the same country.
Do all six countries require a licensed office?
Yes - recruitment everywhere goes through a government-licensed office or centre (Tadbeer in the UAE, Musaned offices in Saudi Arabia, and licensed employment offices in the others).
Which countries have the strictest eligibility?
Oman is the strictest on family status - a marriage certificate is required and a single man generally cannot sponsor a female worker. Income thresholds apply everywhere.
Can someone handle the whole process for me?
Yes. Message Nadia with your country and we’ll connect you to a verified licensed office and guide you through it. You approve your own login and pay the official fees - nothing else.
📚 All six country guides
- 🇦🇪 UAE - MOHRE domestic worker visa guide
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia - Musaned guide
- 🇶🇦 Qatar - MADLSA & MOI guide
- 🇰🇼 Kuwait - PAM & Ashal guide
- 🇧🇭 Bahrain - LMRA guide
- 🇴🇲 Oman - Ministry of Labour guide
