Opening a licensed domestic worker recruitment centre is one of the most regulated business activities in the Gulf. Every GCC country controls it under a named authority, and the single biggest question — who is even allowed to own one — has a different answer in each country. This 2026 guide gives you the real, current position for all six: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
Rules change and fees are revised by ministerial decision, so treat this as an informed starting map and confirm final figures on the official portal for your country before you commit money. GCC Domestic does not issue licences or process applications — this guide is educational.
Who Can Own a Centre — 2026 at a Glance
| Country | Authority | Who may own the licence (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | MOHRE (Tadbeer) + Dept. of Economic Development | 100% foreign ownership allowed — no Emirati partner required |
| Saudi Arabia | HRSD — Musaned | Foreign-owned recruitment companies allowed via MISA |
| Kuwait | PAM + Ministry of Interior | Kuwaiti citizens only |
| Qatar | Ministry of Labour | 100% Qatari-owned only |
| Bahrain | LMRA | Bahraini citizens only |
| Oman | Ministry of Labour + MOCIIP | Omani nationals only (reserved activity) |
The headline: the UAE is the only GCC country where a foreign national can own a domestic-worker centre outright. Saudi Arabia is open to foreign recruitment companies under investment rules. The other four remain reserved for citizens.
UAE — Tadbeer (100% Foreign Ownership Allowed)
Authority: The Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE) regulates the Tadbeer domestic-worker service-centre model under Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 (amended by Decree-Law No. 21 of 2023). The commercial company itself is licensed by the emirate’s Department of Economic Development (Dubai Economy & Tourism, or Abu Dhabi’s ADDED).
Who can own it (2026): A non-UAE national can own 100% of a Tadbeer domestic-worker services company — no Emirati partner and no local sponsor required. This is confirmed against a current Department of Economic Development–issued Tadbeer licence (activity: “Tadbeer For Domestic Workers Services”, legal form: LLC – Sole Proprietorship, owner 100% foreign national, valid into 2026). It follows the UAE’s wider full-foreign-ownership reforms to the Commercial Companies Law.
How to open it — steps:
- Reserve the trade name and the activity “Tadbeer For Domestic Workers Services” with the Department of Economic Development.
- Form the company — an LLC (a sole proprietorship LLC is permitted, 100% foreign-owned), with the Memorandum of Association and paid-up capital (a real 2025–2026 example shows AED 700,000).
- Obtain the DED commercial licence.
- Apply to MOHRE for Tadbeer operational approval: a financial bank guarantee (reported at AED 500,000, auto-renewable, with an insurance alternative), a ground-floor premises fitted to MOHRE’s design specification, and good-conduct conditions. Foreign (non-UAE) applicants must additionally show a bank statement of AED 2 million or more as proof of funds, on top of the AED 500,000 guarantee.
- Operate under MOHRE-set service packages and tariffs; renew the licence annually.
Portal: mohre.gov.ae and your emirate’s economic-department portal. Confirm the current guarantee and fee figures with MOHRE directly.
Saudi Arabia — Musaned (Open to Foreign Companies)
Authority: The Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development (HRSD), through the Musaned platform (musaned.com.sa).
Who can own it (2026): Recruitment entities are typically Saudi companies, but foreign investors are permitted if they meet Ministry of Investment (MISA) criteria and the minimum capital thresholds in the Companies Law. Saudi Arabia is therefore the second GCC market open to foreign ownership of recruitment businesses.
Financial tiers (from a 2025 proposed regulation — verify enactment with HRSD):
- Large: ~SAR 100M capital, ~SAR 20M bank guarantee, up to a 10-year licence.
- Medium: ~SAR 50M capital, ~SAR 5M guarantee, 5-year licence.
- Small: ~SAR 5M capital, ~SAR 2M guarantee, 5-year licence.
How to open it: establish the entity (with MISA approval if foreign) → obtain the HRSD recruitment licence → register/onboard the office on Musaned with the Enjaz e-wallet → operate through Musaned e-contracting. From 1 January 2026, domestic-worker wages must flow through the Musaned electronic wage system.
Kuwait — Kuwaiti Citizens Only
Authority: The Public Authority of Manpower (PAM, manpower.gov.kw) with the Ministry of Interior’s Domestic Labour Department, under Law No. 68 of 2015 (amended by Law No. 86 of 2022).
Who can own it: the licensee must be a Kuwaiti citizen of good conduct, aged 30–70, with at least a secondary-school certificate. Foreign nationals cannot own a domestic-labour office. The licence is personal and non-transferable.
Financial requirements: a bank guarantee from a local Kuwaiti bank of KD 40,000 for an office, or KD 100,000 for a company plus KD 40,000 per branch, valid two years. The state-linked Al Durra company recruits directly and complements — does not replace — private offices.
Qatar — 100% Qatari-Owned Only
Authority: The Ministry of Labour (mol.gov.qa), under Law No. 15 of 2017 on Domestic Workers and the recruitment regime (Decree No. 8 of 2005, amended by Ministerial Decision No. 21 of 2021).
Who can own it: only 100% Qatari-owned entities and Qatari nationals holding a valid manpower licence may recruit for third parties. Foreign ownership is not permitted.
Process & obligations: submit the prescribed application to the Labour Department, which has 30 days to review before referral to the Minister. The licence is valid two years and renewable in two-year terms. Recruitment offices must guarantee a nine-month probation for domestic workers (full refund in the first three months, then a pro-rated refund). Recruitment runs alongside the Qatar Visa Centre network in source countries.
Bahrain — Bahraini Citizens Only
Authority: The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA, lmra.gov.bh); commercial registration via Sijilat (Ministry of Industry & Commerce).
Who can own it: the applicant must be a Bahraini citizen, or a business with a commercial register fully owned by a Bahraini citizen. The licensee must personally manage the office and hold no other employment.
Money & process: a bank guarantee/deposit of BHD 10,000 and a licence fee of BHD 200. Apply with the guarantee → provide a good-conduct certificate, valid commercial register, office lease, worker housing approved by the Ministry of Health → pay the fee → licence issued. Valid one year; processing around 60 working days; LMRA-approved contracts only.
Oman — Omani Nationals Only
Authority: The Ministry of Labour (formerly Ministry of Manpower) for the recruitment-office permit, with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion (MOCIIP) for the commercial registration. Domestic-worker rules were updated by Ministerial Decision 574 of 2025.
Who can own it: manpower and recruitment offices are a reserved activity for Omani nationals (the foreign-investment negative list, Ministerial Decision 209 of 2020). 100% foreign ownership is not permitted for this activity despite Oman’s general foreign-ownership regime.
Money & process: register the Omani-owned entity with MOCIIP, join the Oman Chamber, lodge a bank guarantee (industry indications around OMR 5,000–10,000 — confirm with the Ministry), apply to the Ministry of Labour, pass a site inspection, pay fees and register the labour file. Obligations include written contracts and WPS payroll; verify exact OMR figures with the Ministry as they are not all published.
Choosing Where to Set Up
- You are a foreign investor: the UAE (Tadbeer) is the only GCC market where you can own a domestic-worker centre 100% with no local partner. Saudi Arabia is the other option, via MISA, at a much larger capital scale.
- You are a GCC national: your home country’s scheme (PAM, Ministry of Labour, LMRA, or Ministry of Labour Oman) is open to you with a national-ownership licence.
- Either way: a bank guarantee, compliant premises and government-set contracts are universal. Budget for the guarantee first — it is the largest fixed cost.
Once you are licensed, get listed where families actually search. Browse how verified offices appear in our agency directory, and see the operational tooling agencies use in Meet the 4 AI agents behind GCC Domestic. Families researching agencies should read how to choose a verified agency.
Full Country Guides (2026)
Each country has a dedicated, detailed 2026 walkthrough:
- UAE — open a Tadbeer centre (100% foreign ownership)
- Saudi Arabia — recruitment company via Musaned
- Kuwait — domestic labour office
- Qatar — recruitment office
- Bahrain — LMRA employment office
- Oman — recruitment office
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreigner own a domestic worker recruitment centre in the UAE in 2026?
Yes. As of 2025–2026 a non-UAE national can own 100% of a Tadbeer domestic-worker services company, with no Emirati partner and no local sponsor required — confirmed against a current Department of Economic Development–issued Tadbeer licence. Operational approval, premises and a bank guarantee from MOHRE still apply.
Which GCC countries only allow citizens to own a centre?
Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman reserve domestic-worker recruitment licences for their own nationals. The UAE allows full foreign ownership, and Saudi Arabia permits foreign recruitment companies through the Ministry of Investment.
What is the biggest cost when opening a centre?
The bank guarantee. It ranges from BHD 10,000 in Bahrain and KD 40,000 in Kuwait to a reported AED 500,000 for a UAE Tadbeer centre and millions of riyals for large Saudi recruitment companies.
Does GCC Domestic issue these licences?
No. GCC Domestic connects families with licensed agencies and verifies them. Licences are issued only by each country’s government authority. This guide is educational — confirm current figures on the official portal.
How long is a licence valid?
It varies: one year in the UAE, Bahrain and Oman (renewable), two years in Kuwait and Qatar, and up to five or ten years for tiered Saudi recruitment companies.
Conclusion
The opportunity in 2026 is clearest in the UAE: a foreign entrepreneur can fully own a Tadbeer domestic-worker centre with no local partner — a genuine exception in the GCC. Everywhere else, plan around national ownership (Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman) or the Saudi investment route. In every country the path is the same shape: licence the company, satisfy the authority, post the guarantee, run government contracts.
Ready to be found by families once you are licensed? See the verified agency directory and the verified-agency guide.
