Hiring a maid in the Gulf comes with real legal duties — and breaking them, even by accident, brings fines. Here are the core rules every employer must follow in 2026 across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman, in plain English.
The rules that apply everywhere in the GCC
- A written contract is mandatory — it sets salary, hours, duties and rest.
- Salary on time, every month — increasingly through wage-protection systems.
- One rest day a week and reasonable daily rest.
- You cannot hold her passport — illegal in every GCC state.
- End-of-service pay is owed at the end of the contract.
- Food, accommodation and medical care are the employer’s responsibility.
Country specifics
Standard MOHRE contract, medical insurance required, cancel/renew via the MOHRE app. UAE guide →
Everything via Musaned & Absher; wage protection expanding. Saudi guide →
Ministry of Labour permit, marriage-certificate and income rules apply. Oman guide →
⚠️ The fastest way to break the rules by accident is hiring through an unlicensed broker. Always hire through a government-licensed office — that is the whole point of verifying every agency on GCC Domestic.
The real fix for maid problems: training
Most maid problems start the same way — nobody trained her. On GCC Domestic, when you hire through a government-verified office, your worker trains 24/7 with Amina, our AI teacher, in her own language — cleaning, cooking, childcare, safety and basic English. She arrives ready on day one, not learning on your time and money.
Frequently asked questions
Can an employer keep the maid's passport in the GCC?
No. Holding a domestic worker's passport is illegal in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and across the GCC, with fines for employers who do it.
Is a rest day required for a maid in the Gulf?
Yes — one full rest day per week, plus reasonable daily rest, is required in every GCC country, alongside on-time salary and proper food and accommodation.
How do I make sure I'm following the rules?
Use a written government contract, pay on time, give the rest day, never hold the passport, and hire only through a licensed, government-verified office.
