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The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has detailed the professions subject to Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on domestic workers, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 21 of 2023, to ensure uniform application of sector-specific rules. The clarification distinguishes these roles from those covered by general labour regulations while outlining associated rights, employer duties and recruitment requirements. Authorities continue to direct employers toward licensed recruitment offices to maintain compliance with the framework.
According to the official UAE government platform, the 19 occupations classified under the domestic workers law are housemaid, sailor, guard, shepherd, jockey, tamer, falcon care-taker, worker, housekeeper, cook, nanny or babysitter, farm worker or grower, gardener, personal trainer or coach, private tutor, home nurse, personal assistant, private agricultural engineer and personal or family driver. The legislation prohibits discrimination in these roles on grounds of race, colour, gender, religion or political opinion. Employers must use ministry-approved contracts and licensed agencies when hiring for any listed position.
Dispute resolution procedures under the amended law require initial referral to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for amicable settlement attempts when conflicts arise among employers, workers or recruitment firms. If resolution fails within the designated period, the ministry forwards the case to the Court of First Instance with a supporting memorandum that includes arguments from both sides and its recommendations. The amendments transferred most active cases from the Court of Appeal to the Court of First Instance at no cost, provided no final ruling had been issued.
Domestic workers in the covered occupations are entitled to receive wages within 10 days of the due date as stipulated in their contracts, one paid rest day per week and a minimum of 12 hours of daily rest that includes at least eight consecutive hours, the government platform stated. Additional guarantees comprise no less than 30 days of paid annual leave each year, a round-trip ticket home every two years and a cap of 30 days of sick leave annually. Workers must retain possession of their personal documents, including passports and identification cards.
The law bars employers from engaging in discrimination, harassment, forced labour, exposure to physical harm, assignment of uncontracted tasks or employment of workers in roles outside the defined categories without explicit ministry approval. A parallel government outline enumerates 16 employer obligations that include provision of suitable accommodation, meals, work tools and compensation for occupational injuries. These standards apply equally across all 19 occupations to promote consistent protections.
Mahad Manpower Research placed the UAE domestic worker population at approximately 950,000 at the end of 2025, forming part of a GCC-wide total of 4.7 million. The ministry operates 138 licensed and active recruitment offices for this sector, with enforcement actions including fines imposed on 42 offices during the first half of 2026 for regulatory breaches. Digital expansion of the Work Bundle platform has since enabled fully online processing of visas, medical examinations and contracts to reduce administrative friction while reinforcing oversight.
The occupational list forms part of sustained reforms that balance worker safeguards with streamlined procedures for households and agencies. Ministry guidance stresses recruitment exclusively through approved channels to prevent violations that carry significant penalties. Updates to the framework reflect ongoing adjustments to address both labour market needs and protection standards across the varied roles now explicitly identified.
