The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has issued 135 fines against 42 domestic worker recruitment offices in the first half of 2026 — and the single most common violation was one that costs families money directly: failing to refund recruitment fees on time.
Quick answer: MOHRE fined 42 of the UAE's 138 licensed recruitment offices (roughly one in three) with 135 penalties in H1 2026. 106 of those violations — 79% — were failures to refund all or part of the recruitment fee to employers within the period required by law, after a worker was returned to the office or stopped reporting for duty. If this happened to you, you have the right to complain and to recover your money.
The numbers
| Metric | H1 2026 |
|---|---|
| Fines issued | 135 |
| Offices penalised | 42 |
| Licensed and active offices in the UAE | 138 |
| Refund-related violations | 106 (79% of all violations) |
| Failure to follow approved terms and procedures | 29 |
For context, MOHRE reported 40 offices and around 140 violations in the first half of 2025 — so enforcement activity is holding at a similar level year on year, with slightly more offices caught and slightly fewer total violations.
The violation that affects families most: delayed refunds
MOHRE recorded 106 cases where recruitment offices failed to refund all or part of the recruitment fee within the period specified in the regulations. According to the Ministry, these arose in two situations:
- The employer returned the domestic worker to the recruitment office; or
- The employer reported that the worker had stopped reporting for duty.
MOHRE stated that compliance with the refund requirement is essential to protecting employers' rights, maintaining fairness in contractual relationships, and reducing disputes.
In plain terms: if you paid a licensed office and the placement failed within the period your contract and the regulations cover, the money is supposed to come back to you — on a defined timeline, not whenever the office feels like it. More than a hundred offices were penalised in six months precisely because that didn't happen.
What to do if an office hasn't refunded you
- Gather your paperwork. The signed contract, the receipt or payment proof, the date you returned the worker or reported the absence, and any written communication with the office.
- Put the request in writing. Ask the office in writing (email or WhatsApp is fine) for the refund, referencing the date of the triggering event. A written trail matters far more than phone calls.
- File a complaint with MOHRE. Call the Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084, or use MOHRE's official app and website channels. Complaints against recruitment offices are exactly what this monitoring system exists for — the 135 fines above came from inspections and reports.
- Keep it factual. Dates, amounts, and documents. MOHRE's process works on evidence.
For the full step-by-step, see our guide on how to file a complaint against a Tadbeer centre in the UAE.
The other 29 violations: procedures and terms
MOHRE recorded a further 29 violations by offices that failed to comply with the approved terms and procedures governing domestic worker recruitment. These cover how the service must be delivered — the contractual and operational standards a licensed office is required to follow. Administrative penalties were applied in each case.
How to check an office is licensed before you pay
Every legitimate domestic worker recruitment office in the UAE holds a MOHRE licence. Before paying anyone:
- Ask for the licence number and verify it through MOHRE's official channels or by calling 80084.
- Confirm there is a real physical office at the stated address.
- Insist on a written contract that states the fee, the refund conditions, and the replacement terms before any money changes hands.
- Be sceptical of prices far below the market. Legitimate recruitment has real costs; a suspiciously cheap package usually means steps are being skipped.
Working with an unlicensed recruiter exposes the employer to legal consequences too — not only the recruiter. See our UAE domestic worker scam warning for the full risk picture.
The other side: most offices comply
It's worth reading the Ministry's statement in full rather than only the headline. MOHRE explicitly commended the high level of compliance shown by many licensed offices across the UAE, noting they maintained high standards of service quality and transparency, and describing them as key partners in developing the recruitment system.
That framing matters. With 42 offices penalised out of 138 licensed, roughly seven in ten licensed offices were not fined at all in this period. The enforcement data isn't an argument against using licensed offices — it's an argument for choosing a good one, and for knowing your rights when something goes wrong.
What this means if you're hiring
- Read the refund clause before you sign. Know what triggers a refund, what portion is refundable, and within how many days.
- Keep every document. Refund disputes are won on paperwork.
- Report problems. MOHRE's oversight system depends on complaints; the offices fined this half-year were caught through inspections, monitoring and reports.
- Choose verified. GCC Domestic lists UAE Tadbeer centres and agencies checked against MOHRE's licence records — see verified agencies or our guide to hiring a maid in Dubai.
Frequently asked questions
How many recruitment offices did MOHRE fine in 2026?
MOHRE issued 135 fines against 42 domestic worker recruitment offices during the first half of 2026, for violations of the Federal Decree-Law concerning domestic workers and its executive regulations.
What was the most common violation?
Failing to refund all or part of the recruitment fee to employers within the period required by law. MOHRE recorded 106 such cases — 79% of all violations — arising after employers returned a domestic worker or reported that the worker had stopped reporting for duty.
Can I get my recruitment fee back if the worker leaves?
If you used a licensed office and the situation falls within the refund conditions in the regulations and your contract, yes — and the office must pay within the specified period. If it doesn't, you can complain to MOHRE on 80084 or through its official channels.
How do I complain about a recruitment office in the UAE?
Contact MOHRE's Labour Claims and Advisory Call Centre on 80084, or file through MOHRE's official app or website, with your contract, payment proof and dates.
How many licensed domestic worker recruitment offices are there in the UAE?
138 licensed and active offices, according to MOHRE.
Source: Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) statement, 27 July 2026, as reported by WAM and Gulf News. This article is informational and not legal advice — confirm current procedures, timelines and your specific entitlements with MOHRE.
