UAE fines 42 domestic worker recruitment firms for violating rules

As many as 42 domestic worker recruitment offices in the UAE have been penalised for breaking employment rules during the first half of 2026.

In a statement, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said it issued 135 fines against the violating firms during regular inspections. 

Among them, 106 violations were recorded when firms failed to refund "all or part of the recruitment fee to the employer within the specified period" after a domestic worker absconded or been returned to the firms. According to the UAE laws, refunds must be made within two weeks of when the issue is reported.

The ministry also recorded 29 violations related to recruitment offices' failure to comply with the approved terms regulating domestic worker recruitment activities.

The UAE is home to a total of 138 licensed and active domestic worker recruitment offices.

The ministry also urged people to report negative practices or share any feedback regarding domestic worker recruitment agencies to its call centre on 600590000.

"We call on employers to deal exclusively with licensed domestic worker recruitment agencies, which can be found listed on the MoHRE’s official website and social media pages," the MoHRE said in a statement.