Minimum wage requirement for expats to sponsor a maid in the UAE has been hiked

The minimum wage required by expatriates to sponsor a maid in the UAE has now been increased to Dhs25,000.

Previously, residents had to earn Dhs6,000 to sponsor a domestic worker.

The new requirement applies to the total household income – rather than the sponsor’s income alone, a customer service representative for the ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation clarified.

The regulation has already taken effect this year.

However, it only applies to families that are looking to sponsor a maid this year; expats who are renewing their maid’s sponsorship will not be affected, a customer service representative for Tadbeer, which handles visas for domestic workers, confirmed.

Currently, the costs associated with employing a maid annually – including visa fees, medical insurance etc – work out to an estimated Dhs8,000 (excluding the wages given to the maid). Expats are also required to pay a refundable deposit of Dhs3,000 in the first year of hiring the maid.

The UAE has strict guidelines for the employment of domestic workers in the country.

All domestic workers have a six month probation period and have to be given at least one-day off per week.

Each country also has independent regulations regarding minimum salary that need to be paid to their nationals.