Before you look at maid visa costs, there is a more basic question: can you actually sponsor a maid in the UAE? Not every resident qualifies. This guide explains who is eligible to sponsor a domestic-worker visa in 2026, the income and housing conditions, how many workers you can sponsor, and where the cost fits in.
Who is eligible to sponsor a maid visa in the UAE
To sponsor a domestic worker (maid, nanny, cook, driver or caregiver), you must be a UAE resident with a valid residence visa and meet conditions set by MOHRE and the ICP. In broad terms, eligibility rests on three things:
- Residency: you hold a valid UAE residence visa (citizen, or expatriate resident). Tourists and visit-visa holders cannot sponsor.
- Income: you meet a minimum monthly salary threshold. The figure most commonly applied is around AED 25,000 per month (or a lower salary together with suitable accommodation, depending on your category). Thresholds change — confirm the current figure with MOHRE or the ICP before committing.
- Accommodation: you have suitable housing appropriate to host a live-in domestic worker.
⚠️ Because income rules are periodically revised and vary by sponsor category, treat any specific figure (including AED 25,000) as indicative. The authoritative source is MOHRE / ICP at the time you apply.
Can a woman sponsor a maid? Can both spouses?
Yes — a UAE resident woman who meets the income and residency conditions can sponsor a maid in her own name. For married couples, the visa is typically sponsored by one spouse who meets the salary requirement; the household's circumstances (number of children, family members needing care) are also considered.
How many maids can one person sponsor?
A standard household sponsor can usually sponsor one domestic worker. Sponsoring additional workers generally requires justifying the need — for example a large family, young children, or a family member who needs care — and meeting higher income conditions. The exact allowance is assessed case by case.
What it costs once you qualify
Eligibility is step one; budgeting is step two. A full domestic-worker package through a licensed Tadbeer center in the UAE typically runs AED 5,000–17,000, covering the entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, insurance and processing. For the full breakdown by route and nationality, see our UAE maid cost guide.
The legal way to sponsor
Sponsorship must go through MOHRE-licensed channels — a Tadbeer center or licensed agency. Hiring a worker on a visit visa, or "borrowing" someone else's sponsored maid, is illegal and exposes you, the sponsor, to an administrative fine of AED 5,000 per worker (Cabinet Resolution 106/2022) and, if prosecuted, fines of AED 50,000–200,000 under Article 27 of Federal Decree-Law 9/2022. Verify any center first: how to verify a licensed maid agency.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary to sponsor a maid in the UAE?
The threshold most commonly applied is around AED 25,000 per month, though a lower salary with suitable accommodation may qualify depending on your category. Income rules change — confirm the current figure with MOHRE or the ICP before applying.
Can a woman sponsor a maid visa in the UAE?
Yes. A UAE resident woman who meets the residency, income and accommodation conditions can sponsor a domestic worker in her own name.
Can I sponsor a maid on a tourist or visit visa?
No. Only UAE residents with a valid residence visa can sponsor. Employing a worker on a visit visa is illegal and carries an administrative fine of AED 5,000 per worker (Cabinet Resolution 106/2022) and, if prosecuted, fines of AED 50,000–200,000 under Article 27 of Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, plus deportation of the worker.
How many maids can I sponsor at once?
Usually one per household. Additional workers require justifying the need (large family, young children, a relative needing care) and meeting higher income conditions, assessed case by case.
Does the maid visa cost change who can sponsor?
No — cost and eligibility are separate. You must first qualify (residency, income, housing); the AED 5,000–17,000 package cost applies only once you are eligible to sponsor.
Eligibility and income thresholds are set by MOHRE and the ICP and change periodically. Confirm current rules with the authority before you apply. Ready to start? Browse verified UAE centers →