Choosing care
Nanny, maid, or part-time help
Updated October 2026
How to separate childcare from housework in the UAE, and why the contract has to go through a licensed Tadbeer centre before anyone starts.
Name the job
Write the day before you meet anyone. Sole charge, school run, night wakes, cooking, laundry, and deep cleaning are not one role. Families who hire “a maid who can also watch the baby” discover the disagreement when someone is sick.
Use a licensed centre
Domestic worker sponsorship is handled through MoHRE Tadbeer centres. Ask what the worker is entitled to, what you pay the centre, and the cost if the match fails in the first months. A CV forwarded in a mothers’ group does not include a visa.
Part-time is a real option
If you are not ready to sponsor, a licensed part-time company is easier to end and easier to schedule around a newborn. It costs more per hour and less in surprises. Run the two quotes side by side for six months, not for one week.
Short questions
- Can I hire someone already in the country?
- Only on a legal transfer through the licensed channel. Do not take someone’s passport “for safekeeping”, and do not start work before the visa allows it.
A parent guide, not a government notice. Confirm deadlines on the official portal before you book or pay.