How to Hire a Nanny in Saudi Arabia: Full 2026 Guide

Saudi citizens and most residents holding a valid iqama can sponsor a domestic worker, including a nanny. Through Musaned the sponsor must meet a minimum monthly income threshold (currently SAR 10,000 for the primary sponsor or SAR 25,000 combined for a couple) and provide proof of suitable accommodation. The family size and any dependents already in the household are also factored in by the Ministry of Human Resources when approving a sponsorship request.

A spouse, mother, or sister of the sponsor can use the same domestic worker, but each household can typically sponsor up to four domestic workers (one nanny, one cook, one driver, plus a fourth in certain categories). Single male sponsors aged under 24 face additional scrutiny and may be declined.

1) Create a Musaned account at musaned.com.sa using your Absher credentials. 2) Choose a licensed recruitment office and the source country (most nannies come from the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, or Sri Lanka). 3) Pay the recruitment office fee — held in escrow by Musaned until the worker arrives. 4) The office sources candidates, shares CVs, and you select one. 5) The worker undergoes medical and police checks in the source country. 6) The visa is issued, the worker travels, and you collect them at the airport. 7) Within 90 days of arrival you must issue their iqama through Absher.

Many families also hire transferred workers already in Saudi Arabia — workers whose previous sponsorship ended and who are looking for a new household. This is faster (no overseas recruitment, no medicals abroad) but the transfer itself runs through Musaned and requires the prior sponsor’s no-objection clearance. Rufy.care specifically lists workers in the transfer pool alongside fresh recruits.

A fresh overseas recruitment of a Filipino nanny typically costs between SAR 16,000 and SAR 22,000 all-in, including recruitment fees, visa, flight, medical, insurance, and the first month of salary. Kenyan, Ugandan, or Ethiopian nannies are usually SAR 9,000 to SAR 14,000. A domestic transfer of a worker already in the country costs SAR 6,000 to SAR 12,000 since you skip the overseas portion.

After arrival the running costs are: monthly salary (SAR 1,200–1,800 for African nationalities, SAR 1,800–2,500 for Filipina, varies by experience), iqama issuance (SAR 1,250 first year), health insurance (~SAR 1,000/year for a basic domestic-worker policy), and exit/re-entry visas if you take her on holiday outside Saudi Arabia.

Fresh overseas recruitment: 60 to 120 days from contract signing to arrival, driven mostly by the source-country embassy queue (POLO appointments for the Philippines are the most common bottleneck). Domestic transfers: 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes faster if the previous sponsor releases the worker quickly through Absher. Iqama issuance after arrival: typically 5–14 working days.

The biggest one is paying a recruitment office outside Musaned’s escrow system to "speed things up." If the worker doesn’t arrive or quits within the first three months, you have no recourse. Always pay through Musaned. The second is skipping the trial period: under the standard domestic-worker contract you have 90 days to terminate without a financial penalty if the match doesn’t work — use it.

A third trap is hiring a worker whose iqama hasn’t cleared transfer — she remains legally tied to her previous sponsor until Musaned approves the move, even if she has moved into your home. If something goes wrong, the prior sponsor still has legal liability and exit rights, not you. Rufy verifies every transfer candidate is cleared on Musaned before listing.