What is Musaned?

Musaned (Arabic: مساند, meaning "supportive" or "assisting") is the official electronic platform of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD). Operating since 2014, it regulates the recruitment, contracting, and salary payment of approximately 1,400 licensed domestic worker recruitment offices nationwide. From January 2026, all domestic worker salaries in Saudi Arabia must be paid electronically through Musaned via the Wage Protection System.

⚠️ 2026 WPS e-salary mandate

From 1 January 2026, all domestic worker salaries in Saudi Arabia must be paid electronically through the Wage Protection System (WPS) via Musaned. Cash payment is no longer legal. Every employer must set up a WPS-linked bank account or approved digital wallet for each worker.

Definition

Musaned is Saudi Arabia's official end-to-end electronic platform for hiring and managing domestic workers. Operated by HRSD, the platform performs three core regulatory functions:

e-Visa issuance — generating and tracking the worker's entry visa
e-Contracts — issuing the bilingual HRSD-prescribed employment contract
e-Tawtheeq — official contract attestation and salary disbursement through WPS

Beyond these core functions, Musaned also operates a complaints + dispute resolution channel, a worker-facing app for tracking salary payments and contract status, and a public registry of every licensed recruitment office where employers and workers can verify legitimacy.

History

Before 2014, Saudi Arabia's domestic worker recruitment market was managed bilaterally between private recruitment offices and source-country agencies, with limited central oversight from the Saudi government. Disputes were common, fees were opaque, and salary payment relied on cash.

Musaned launched in 2014 as a digital platform to standardise the recruitment process. In 2016, HRSD made the platform mandatory for all new domestic worker contracts. Over the following years, Musaned expanded its scope to include the worker-facing app (2018), bilateral agreement integration with source countries (2019-2023), and the WPS e-salary mandate (effective 1 January 2026).

How a Musaned hire works

Employer registers on Musaned. Saudi resident with active Absher account logs in, verifies eligibility (residence, salary, ability to sponsor).
Recruitment preferences submitted. Employer specifies preferred nationality, age range, religion, experience, and budget.
Office matches candidates. Musaned-licensed recruitment offices submit up to 5 candidate profiles.
Contract issuance. Once a candidate is selected, the bilingual HRSD-prescribed contract is generated on the platform, signed electronically by both parties, and attested by HRSD (e-Tawtheeq).
Visa + travel. Worker visa is issued through Musaned. Office coordinates source-country deployment, medical checks, and travel.
Arrival + induction. Worker arrives in Saudi Arabia, completes biometrics, receives Iqama (residency permit), and begins placement.
Monthly salary via WPS. From January 2026, employer must pay monthly salary electronically through Musaned's WPS integration. Every payment is recorded and visible to both worker and HRSD.

Worker protections under Musaned

Domestic workers in Saudi Arabia have the right to:

Written bilingual contract issued via Musaned
Standard 9 hours daily work / 1 weekly rest day
30 paid days of annual leave
End-of-service award (1 month salary per year worked)
Mandatory health insurance paid by employer
Direct access to Musaned's complaints channel + HRSD hotline 19911
Protection from passport withholding (illegal under Saudi law)
From January 2026: guaranteed electronic salary payment via WPS

How to verify a Musaned office

Visit musaned.com.sa
Search by the office's name or HRSD license number
Confirm the record shows Active license status
Cross-reference the office address with their physical location
If anything seems off, call HRSD on 19911 to verify directly

Warning sign: Any "recruitment office" that is not listed on Musaned, requires cash payment to a personal account, or arranges contracts outside the platform is operating illegally. Both you and any worker placed through them would be without legal protection.

Musaned vs Tadbeer (UAE)

Musaned and Tadbeer (UAE) serve the same purpose — regulating domestic worker recruitment — but with different structures:

Musaned is a centralised electronic platform; recruitment offices operate as nodes plugging into the platform's APIs and WPS.
Tadbeer is a network of physical centres; each centre operates more as a brick-and-mortar one-stop shop.
Saudi Arabia has ~1,400 Musaned offices vs UAE's ~240 Tadbeer centres — reflecting Saudi's larger market size (~33 million population vs UAE's ~10 million).
Both require bilingual contracts, replacement warranties, and government dispute resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the word 'Musaned' mean in Arabic?

Musaned (مساند) is an Arabic word meaning 'supportive' or 'assisting'. Saudi Arabia's HRSD chose this name to signal that the platform provides supportive services to both employers and domestic workers throughout the recruitment lifecycle.

Who runs the Musaned platform?

Musaned is run by the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD). It operates at musaned.com.sa and through a dedicated mobile app available in both Arabic and English.

When was Musaned launched?

Musaned was launched in 2014 as Saudi Arabia's centralised electronic recruitment platform. It became mandatory for all new domestic worker contracts in 2016. The 2026 WPS e-salary mandate (effective 1 January 2026) is the latest major expansion of the platform.

How many recruitment offices are on Musaned?

As of 2026, Musaned lists approximately 1,400 active HRSD-licensed recruitment offices across all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. The largest concentrations are in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

What is the 2026 WPS e-salary mandate?

From 1 January 2026, all domestic worker salaries in Saudi Arabia must be paid electronically through the Wage Protection System (WPS) via Musaned. Cash payment is no longer legal. Employers must open a WPS-linked bank account or approved digital wallet for each worker. The mandate was introduced to improve wage transparency, reduce wage theft, and create an audit trail for HRSD oversight.

Is Musaned mandatory for hiring a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia?

Yes. Since 2016, all new domestic worker contracts in Saudi Arabia must be issued through Musaned. Contracts arranged outside the platform are not legally enforceable, and workers placed informally have no protection under Saudi labour law.

What recruitment fees apply through Musaned?

Recruitment fees in 2026 typically range from SAR 12,000 to SAR 22,000 (about USD 3,200-5,800) for one-time recruitment, varying by source country and worker experience. Filipino domestic workers cost the highest tier; Ethiopian and Ugandan workers are typically the lower tier. Monthly salaries (SAR 1,100-1,900 depending on nationality) are paid separately and now mandatorily via WPS.

How do I verify a Musaned office is legitimate?

Visit musaned.com.sa and search by the office's name or HRSD license number. Every legitimate office will return an Active record. You can also call HRSD on 19911 to confirm any office's current status. Never pay any office that is not listed on Musaned.