Under UAE law, every domestic worker must have a MOHRE-registered employment contract. Verbal agreements are not legally recognized. This guide explains exactly what the standard MOHRE domestic worker contract covers, what your rights and obligations are, and how to register it officially.
⚡ Quick Facts
| 📋 Contract Type | MOHRE Standard Domestic Worker Employment Contract |
| ⚖️ Legal Basis | Federal Decree Law No. 9 of 2022 (amended 2023) |
| 📱 Register Via | MOHRE App or Tadbeer center |
| 💰 Cost | Free to register via MOHRE app |
| 📞 MOHRE Helpline | 600 590 000 |
| 🔄 Mandatory? | Yes — verbal contracts are not legal in UAE |
⚖️ Legal Framework — UAE Domestic Worker Law 2026
The Federal Decree Law No. 9 of 2022, amended by Federal Decree Law No. 21 of 2023, governs all domestic worker employment in the UAE. Key provisions include:
- ✅ Mandatory written MOHRE contract — no verbal agreements
- ✅ Salary within 10 days of its due date (Art. 15); WPS optional for housemaids, mandatory for five roles (MR 675/2022)
- ✅ Maximum 12 hours of work per day with rest periods
- ✅ 1 day off per week (paid)
- ✅ 30 days paid leave per year after 1 year of service
- ✅ Medical insurance is mandatory (especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
- ✅ End of service gratuity: no fixed rate in the current law (Art. 22) — check MoHRE's calculator and your contract
- ✅ Return air ticket to home country every 2 years
📝 What the MOHRE Contract Must Include
Full names and nationalities of employer and worker, passport numbers, job title and description.
Agreed monthly salary in AED, payment method (must be WPS-compliant), payment date.
Daily working hours (max 12), weekly rest day, prayer time provisions.
30 days paid annual leave per year, leave scheduling rules.
Employer's obligation to provide suitable housing and three meals per day.
Start date, end date (typically 2 years), renewal terms.
Notice period (typically 30 days), grounds for immediate termination, gratuity entitlement.
Any end-of-service gratuity terms (the current law sets no fixed rate), return air ticket obligation.
🔄 How to Get and Register the MOHRE Contract
Via MOHRE app, MOHRE website, or through your Tadbeer center.
Both employer and worker details, agreed terms, and signatures.
Employer and domestic worker must both sign the contract.
Upload the signed contract to MOHRE for official registration.
Both employer and worker must each receive a signed original copy.
💰 Minimum Salary Guidelines 2026
| Position | Typical Monthly Salary (AED) |
|---|---|
| Housemaid / Housekeeper | AED 700 – 1,800 |
| Nanny / Nursemaid | AED 1,000 – 2,200 |
| Private Nurse | AED 1,500 – 3,500 |
| Cook | AED 800 – 1,800 |
| Private Driver / Chauffeur | AED 1,000 – 2,500 |
| Caregiver for Elderly | AED 1,200 – 2,800 |
Note: UAE has no fixed minimum wage for domestic workers — salaries are negotiated and must be documented in the MOHRE contract.
⚠️ Contract Violations — Employer Obligations
❌ Employers MUST NOT:
- Confiscate the worker's passport
- Change contract terms without worker consent
- Delay salary payment beyond 10 days of due date
- Deny weekly rest day or annual leave
- Subject the worker to physical, verbal, or emotional abuse
🚨 MOHRE imposes administrative fines under Cabinet Resolution 106/2022 (for example AED 500–5,000 per worker for late wages, AED 500 per worker for keeping her documents, AED 20,000 for assault). If a case goes to court, violations carry fines of AED 5,000 to AED 1,000,000 under Article 27 of Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, multiplied by the number of workers affected and doubled for a repeat; abuse is also prosecuted under the Penal Code.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOHRE standard domestic worker contract?
It is the official UAE government contract template issued by the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation that legally governs all domestic employment relationships in the UAE.
Can I change the contract terms after signing?
Contract amendments must be agreed upon by both parties and registered with MOHRE. Employers cannot unilaterally change terms that reduce the worker's benefits.
What is end of service gratuity for domestic workers?
The current law (Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Art. 22) sets no fixed gratuity rate: it leaves the method to a future Cabinet decision, which has not been issued. The 14-days-per-year rule belonged to the repealed 2017 law. Check MoHRE's calculator and your contract.
Can a domestic worker resign from their contract?
Not on a fixed notice period: the law sets none. She may leave, keeping her rights, 2 weeks after notifying MoHRE if her wage is cut or the employer breaks the contract, and at once if she is assaulted (Cabinet Resolution 106/2022, Art. 10). If she leaves after probation for her own reasons, a directly recruited worker pays her own ticket home (Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Art. 20).
What happens at the end of the 2-year contract?
If both parties agree, the contract can be renewed for another 2 years. The worker is also entitled to a return air ticket to their home country at contract end.
🏠 Find a MOHRE-Verified Tadbeer Center Near You
GCC Domestic has a directory of 130+ MOHRE-approved Tadbeer centers across the UAE. Compare centers, view WhatsApp contacts, and hire legally — zero commission.
📌 Source: MOHRE UAE Official Website — Updated 2026. Always verify latest requirements at mohre.gov.ae.