GCC Domestic Worker Recruitment Cost Comparison
One table of maximum recruitment prices by nationality, then the guarantee, refund and wage rules in each country, with links to each country's calculator.
Maximum recruitment price by nationality
| Nationality | Saudi Arabia (SAR) | Qatar (QAR) | Kuwait (KWD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | 16,905 | 15,000 | 750 |
| Sri Lanka | 15,870 | 16,000 | 750 |
| Bangladesh | 13,512.50 | 14,000 | 750 |
| India | — | 14,000 | 750 |
| Indonesia | — | 17,000 | 750 |
| Kenya | 10,350 | 9,000 | 575 |
| Ethiopia | 6,785 | 9,000 | 575 |
| Uganda | 9,545 | — | 575 |
| Tanzania | 5,700 | — | 575 |
"—" means the country has published no maximum for that nationality, so the price is agreed with the office. The UAE publishes no maximum prices by nationality. Saudi figures are the 2024 caps with VAT (except Tanzania, which includes it), Qatar's are from the 2022 decision, and Kuwait's from the January 2024 decision.
Guarantee, refunds and wages in each country
| Country | Office guarantee and refund | Minimum wage | Added fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 90 days from arrival: cost ÷ contract months × months remaining, then the contract insurance with the same formula. If arrival takes more than 90 days plus a 30-day extension, the amount is refunded with 20%. | No Saudi minimum; the Philippine floor is SAR 1,500 | Visa 2,000, e-service 172.50, iqama 600, and 9,600 a year for a 5th worker (3rd for residents) |
| Qatar | 9 months (Decision 61/2026): full amount minus government fees for 3 months, then 15% deducted for each month up to the ninth. | QAR 1,000, plus 500 housing and 300 food if not provided | The price covers all fees except quarantine; 50% is due at contract |
| Kuwait | 6 months from receipt: the office refunds what was paid and takes the worker back if she refuses to work or is absent. | KWD 75 (at least 120 for a Filipina) | Residence KWD 10 a year for a Kuwaiti family up to 3 workers, 50 for an expat family up to 2 |
| UAE | Full amount in the first month, then cost ÷ contract months × months remaining, within two weeks, with a two-year guarantee. | No published minimum | Approved Tadbeer package prices; charging outside them is an AED 5,000 violation |
How to compare the real cost
The maximum price is only half the picture. Saudi Arabia adds visa and iqama fees, and the average actually paid there is below the cap for African nationalities (Ethiopia about SAR 3,972 in July 2026). Qatar includes all fees in the price, but its minimum wage is higher. Kuwait is cheaper on price and residence for Kuwaiti families, and a Filipina's wage there is KWD 120 to 150. Work out each country with your own figures in its calculator, then compare the first-year cost.
Example: a Filipina at the maximum price, first year:
Saudi Arabia: 16,905 + 2,000 + 172.50 + 600 + salary 1,500 × 12 = SAR 37,677.50.
Qatar: 15,000 + 1,000 × 12 = QAR 27,000 with housing and food provided.
Kuwait: 750 + residence 10 + 120 × 12 = KWD 2,200 for a Kuwaiti family.
After recruitment, work out the worker's end-of-contract entitlements in Saudi Arabia or the UAE, and the Saudi transfer fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where is it cheapest to recruit a housemaid in the GCC?
At the official maximum for a Filipina: Kuwait KWD 750 including the ticket (about SAR 9,150 at an approximate exchange rate), Qatar QAR 15,000 (about SAR 15,450), and Saudi Arabia SAR 16,905 with VAT. But the full comparison includes wages and residence: the minimum wage for a domestic worker is QAR 1,000 in Qatar and KWD 75 in Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia has none.
Does the UAE set maximum prices for recruiting domestic workers?
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation does not publish maximum prices by nationality; it says Tadbeer offices work with package prices set by the ministry and fines anyone charging outside them AED 5,000 per case. Refunds are in full in the first month, then pro rata to the contract months remaining.
How long is the recruitment office guarantee in each country?
Saudi Arabia: 90 days from arrival with a pro-rata refund by the office, then the contract insurance. Qatar: 9 months under Decision 61/2026, a full refund minus government fees for 3 months, then 15% deducted per month. Kuwait: 6 months in which the office refunds what was paid. UAE: full refund in the first month, then pro rata, with a two-year guarantee.
Does the recruitment price include the air ticket?
In Kuwait yes, under Decision 2/2024 (750 for Asia and 575 for Africa including the ticket). In Qatar the price covers all recruitment costs and fees except quarantine. In Saudi Arabia the cap is the office contract price, and the SAR 2,000 visa, e-service fee and iqama are added.
Sources
- Saudi Ministry of Human Resources — recruitment cost caps reduced (15/1/2024)
- QNA — maximum prices for recruiting domestic workers in Qatar (24/1/2022)
- Al Raya — 9-month guarantee period under Decision 61/2026 (25/10/2026)
- Gulf News — Kuwait sets fee limits for hiring domestic workers (9/1/2024)
- MOHRE — domestic workers employers' guide (English)
- UAE Legislation — schedules of Cabinet Resolution 106/2022 (violations)
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.