How to hire a maid, nanny, or driver in Saudi Arabia
Answer three quick questions and we'll show you the right hiring path for your situation — including costs, timelines, and the official next step.
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Hiring a maid, nanny or driver in Saudi Arabia — what families actually need to know
Hiring help at home in Saudi Arabia is more regulated than most families realise, and that is largely a good thing. The rules exist to protect the family and the worker, and following them is much cheaper than the alternatives. Off-platform hiring carries real legal risk for the family. This guide walks you through what each option actually is, who it suits, and what it really costs in 2026.
In Saudi Arabia, every legitimate hiring journey involves the Musaned platform — the official portal of the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development. Whether you're recruiting someone new from abroad or transferring a worker already in the country (kafala transfer), the contract gets authenticated through Musaned and the iqama paperwork finalizes through Absher. Off-platform hiring carries real legal risk for the family; on-platform hiring is straightforward and protected.
Who regulates what
In Saudi Arabia, the MoHRSD is the regulator, Musaned is the operating platform, and Absher handles the final visa and iqama steps. The HRSD has tightened controls in recent years: no fees to the worker, mandatory contract authentication, salary disbursement tracked through the platform, and an absent-worker correction process that lets families regularise the status of workers reported absconding by previous employers.
What it costs to hire a maid in Saudi Arabia — by route
Ranges below are typical for families hiring through the official channels. Source-country wages (Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia) sit on top of these figures and are set by bilateral agreements — verify the current minimum on the official directory before signing a contract.
Recruit through a Musaned office
Pick three Musaned-approved offices, compare offers, hire from abroad.
9,000 – 18,8001,200 – 2,500Pre-defined recruitment via Musaned
You already know who you want — bring them in with an optional 3-month trial.
9,000 – 18,8001,200 – 2,500Kafala transfer (already in Saudi Arabia)
The fastest legal path — when the worker is in-country and the current sponsor agrees.
2,000 – 6,0001,200 – 2,500Transfer from a recruitment company
Take over a worker already placed by a Musaned-licensed company.
4,000 – 9,0001,200 – 2,500| Route | One-time setup | Monthly | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Recruit through a Musaned office | 9,000 – 18,800 | 1,200 – 2,500 worker salary | 4–12 weeks | Pick three Musaned-approved offices, compare offers, hire from abroad. |
Pre-defined recruitment via Musaned | 9,000 – 18,800 | 1,200 – 2,500 worker salary | 3–6 weeks | You already know who you want — bring them in with an optional 3-month trial. |
Kafala transfer (already in Saudi Arabia) | 2,000 – 6,000 | 1,200 – 2,500 worker salary | 1–3 weeks | The fastest legal path — when the worker is in-country and the current sponsor agrees. |
Transfer from a recruitment company | 4,000 – 9,000 | 1,200 – 2,500 worker salary | 2–4 weeks | Take over a worker already placed by a Musaned-licensed company. |
Common mistakes Saudi families make
Most of these are easy to avoid once you know to look for them. None of these are theoretical — we see them in the questions families bring to us.
Paying the worker's recruitment fees
Some agencies will quietly bill the worker for recruitment, transportation, or medical tests. This is illegal in Saudi Arabia and exposes the family to penalties. Confirm in writing that the worker pays nothing; you cover all recruitment costs.
Skipping the Musaned contract
A paper contract signed at the agency without authentication on Musaned is not legally enforceable. If a dispute arises later, around salary, vacation days, or termination, neither side has protection. Always authenticate.
Holding the passport
Confiscating a domestic worker's passport is illegal in Saudi Arabia, regardless of any agreement signed by the worker. They retain it; you may keep a copy for your records only.
Paying salary in cash without a record
Salary disbursement should be tracked through one of the Musaned-linked channels (bank transfer, MADA, etc). Cash with no paper trail makes it hard to prove payment if there is a dispute and may trigger compliance flags at renewal.
Assuming a kafala transfer is automatic
Even when the current sponsor agrees verbally, the transfer needs Musaned approval, worker consent, and Absher finalization. Plan for one to three weeks of process time, not "by next week".
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions families in Saudi Arabia ask most often.
Glossary — terms you'll see along the way
Useful next steps
Once you know your hiring path, these tools can help you plan the budget in detail.