You're ready to hire a maid in the UAE — and you immediately hit the first fork in the road: go through a **Tadbeer centre**, or use a **recruitment agency** and sponsor the worker yourself? It's the question we get asked most, and the honest answer is *"it depends on your situation."*
Here's the thing: we're a directory. We don't recruit, and we don't sell either route — so this is a genuinely unbiased breakdown of cost, income requirements, liability and convenience, to help you pick the option that actually fits you.
## The short answer
**Tadbeer** is usually the better choice for **first-time employers**: lower upfront cost, a lower income requirement, far less paperwork, and a replacement guarantee if it doesn't work out.
**A recruitment agency with your own sponsorship** suits **higher earners hiring for the long term**: it costs more in year one, but renewals are much cheaper and you get more control over who you hire.
A quick rule of thumb:
- Earn around **AED 10,000/month** and want it handled for you → **Tadbeer**.
- Earn **AED 25,000+** and plan to keep the worker for years → **agency / self-sponsorship** often wins on total cost.
The full breakdown is below.
## First, the three legal routes
In the UAE there are three lawful ways to bring a domestic worker into your home:
1. **Tadbeer service centre** — the MOHRE-regulated one-stop centres for domestic workers. A Tadbeer centre can either **sponsor the worker itself** (you pay a monthly fee — the "flexi" model) or **help you sponsor** under your own name. Either way they handle the visa, medical, Emirates ID and contract.
2. **Recruitment agency + your own sponsorship** — a licensed agency sources the worker, and the visa sits under **your** name. Cheaper over time, but you take on the full sponsor responsibilities.
3. **Part-time / hourly help** — must go through a **licensed cleaning company**. A "freelance" cleaner with no company behind her is illegal in the UAE, and the liability falls on you, so avoid it.
This guide compares the two **live-in** routes — Tadbeer vs agency.
## Cost comparison (the part everyone wants)
| Factor | Tadbeer centre | Recruitment agency / self-sponsorship |
|---|---|---|
| Year-1 total cost* | ~AED 8,500–12,000 (all-inclusive package) | ~AED 15,000–22,000 |
| Minimum monthly income required | ~AED 10,000 | ~AED 25,000 |
| Year-2+ renewal | Predictable / included in package | ~AED 3,000–5,500 (cheaper long-term) |
| Who sponsors the worker | Tadbeer can sponsor (you pay monthly) or help you sponsor | You sponsor under your own name |
| Employer liability | Lower — the centre carries more | Full — visa, salary, repatriation are on you |
| Replacement guarantee | Usually yes | Often limited or none |
| Paperwork & visa | Handled for you | More on you |
*Approximate 2026 figures. Actual cost varies by nationality, package and centre/agency. See the full Tadbeer cost breakdown, and estimate the monthly salary with our maid salary calculator.
The pattern is clear: **Tadbeer costs less to start and asks less of your income; an agency costs more up front but is cheaper to renew** — so the right answer depends on how long you'll employ the worker and what you earn. ## Which should you choose? **Choose Tadbeer if you:** - are hiring for the **first time** and want the process handled for you; - earn closer to the **AED 10,000** threshold; - want a **replacement guarantee** and predictable package pricing; - prefer lower liability (the centre carries more of it). **Choose a recruitment agency / self-sponsorship if you:** - earn **AED 25,000+** and meet the self-sponsorship income rule; - plan to keep the worker **long term** (cheaper renewals add up); - want **more control** over selecting the specific worker; - are comfortable handling the visa and sponsor duties yourself. ## The one rule that applies to both Whichever route you choose, the centre or agency **must be MOHRE-licensed** — that is what actually protects you if something goes wrong. The most common way people get burned is paying a cash deposit to an unlicensed "agency" (often just an Instagram account) and never seeing a contract. Before you pay anyone: confirm the MOHRE licence ([here's how to verify a Tadbeer centre](https://www.gccdomestic.com/en/blog/how-to-verify-tadbeer-centre-licensed-mohre-2026/)), or simply start from a list of agencies and centres whose licences are **already verified** — that's what the [GCC Domestic directory](https://www.gccdomestic.com/en/agencies/) does, free. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Tadbeer cheaper than a recruitment agency? In year one, usually yes — a Tadbeer package runs roughly AED 8,500–12,000 all-in, versus around AED 15,000–22,000 through an agency with self-sponsorship. But agency/self-sponsorship renewals (about AED 3,000–5,500) are cheaper than ongoing Tadbeer costs, so over several years the agency route can work out cheaper for long-term employers. ### What monthly income do I need to hire a maid in the UAE? Roughly AED 10,000/month to hire through a Tadbeer centre, and around AED 25,000/month to sponsor a domestic worker under your own name via an agency. Requirements vary, so confirm the current threshold with the centre or MOHRE. ### Can I move from Tadbeer sponsorship to my own sponsorship later? Often yes — many families start with Tadbeer for convenience and later transfer the worker onto their own sponsorship once they qualify. The centre or agency can advise on the transfer process and fees. ### Does Tadbeer give a replacement if the worker doesn't work out? Most Tadbeer packages include a replacement guarantee within a set period — one of the main reasons first-time employers choose Tadbeer. Confirm the exact terms before you sign. ### Can I hire a maid directly without Tadbeer or an agency? The legal hire — the visa and contract — must go through a licensed channel (a Tadbeer centre or a licensed agency). Use a verified, licensed provider rather than an unlicensed broker. ## The bottom line There is no single "best" route — there's the best route **for you**. First-timers and mid-income households usually win with **Tadbeer**; long-term, higher-income employers often save with an **agency and self-sponsorship**. Either way, only deal with a **MOHRE-licensed** provider. **Related guides:** [Full cost to hire a maid](https://www.gccdomestic.com/en/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hire-a-maid-uae-2026/) · [Tadbeer vs Musaned](https://www.gccdomestic.com/en/blog/tadbeer-vs-musaned-uae-saudi-2026/) · [Live-in vs part-time](https://www.gccdomestic.com/en/blog/live-in-vs-part-time-maid-uae-2026/) 👉 **Compare verified, licensed Tadbeer centres and agencies** across the UAE in the [GCC Domestic directory](https://www.gccdomestic.com/en/agencies/) — free, no middlemen.
