Indonesian maids and nannies in the UAE
Indonesia does not allow its nationals to be placed as domestic workers with private households in the UAE. The Director General of Protection at Indonesia's Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers said on 30 March 2026 that placements to the Middle East remain prohibited under the moratorium set by Ministerial Decree 260 of 2015, the Antara news agency reported. We found no decree revoking it.
This page explains what that means for a UAE family and points you to the helpers we recommend instead. MaidMatch is a free platform for families: they can browse every profile at no cost, with no registration or subscription required.
Helpers we recommend instead: Filipina, Kenyan and Ugandan
English is an official language in the Philippines, Kenya and Uganda, and many helpers from these countries speak it.
Ask each helper which languages she speaks and how well, and hear her on a WhatsApp video call before you decide.
Filipina helpers across the UAE
61 helpers available now
Kenyan helpers across the UAE
15 helpers available now
Ugandan helpers across the UAE
7 helpers available now
No helpers are available right now.
What does Indonesia's rule mean for a UAE family?
Don't plan on an Indonesian helper being placed with your family while the rule stands. Positions like this can change, so check the latest with Indonesia's embassy before you make any plans.
Treat any offer to place an Indonesian helper with your family as a warning sign. Our guide to maid-hiring scams shows what to look out for, and our guide to which nationalities can work as maids covers the other home countries.
Which rules apply whoever you hire?
The UAE's rules for every domestic worker, whatever her nationality. MOHRE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, issues the work permit. Employing a domestic worker without a work permit for that job is punishable by a fine of AED 50,000 to AED 200,000.
Under the Domestic Workers Decree-Law, a domestic worker has the right to keep all their official documents, including their passport and ID, and an employer may not hold them. Under the Domestic Workers Decree-Law, a domestic worker's contract must be in Arabic with a translation into a language the worker understands, and if the two versions conflict, the Arabic prevails.
Her contract comes under the same law. A domestic worker's contract must be on MOHRE's standard form and state, among other terms, the nature and place of the work and the worker's total pay and how it is paid.
Our guide to choosing a helper explains why her skills and experience tell you more than her nationality.
Good to know
- Indonesia does not allow its nationals to be placed as domestic workers with private households in the UAE. Source: Ministry of Manpower, Indonesia · checked 28 Sep 2026
- The Director General of Protection at Indonesia's Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers said on 30 March 2026 that placements to the Middle East remain prohibited under the moratorium set by Ministerial Decree 260 of 2015, the Antara news agency reported. Source: Antara · checked 29 Sep 2026
- Employing a domestic worker without a work permit for that job is punishable by a fine of AED 50,000 to AED 200,000. Source: MOHRE · checked 28 Sep 2026
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire an Indonesian maid in the UAE?
Indonesia does not allow its nationals to be placed as domestic workers with private households in the UAE. The Director General of Protection at Indonesia's Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers said on 30 March 2026 that placements to the Middle East remain prohibited under the moratorium set by Ministerial Decree 260 of 2015, the Antara news agency reported. We found no decree revoking it. Positions can change, so check the latest with Indonesia's embassy.
Does the UAE ban Indonesian maids?
The restriction we found comes from Indonesia. We found no official UAE page that lists which nationalities may work as domestic workers. Indonesia does not allow its nationals to be placed as domestic workers with private households in the UAE, according to Indonesia's Ministry of Manpower. The Director General of Protection at Indonesia's Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers said on 30 March 2026 that placements to the Middle East remain prohibited under the moratorium set by Ministerial Decree 260 of 2015, the Antara news agency reported.
What if an agency offers me an Indonesian maid?
Treat it as a warning sign, and don't pay anything. Indonesia does not allow its nationals to be placed as domestic workers with private households in the UAE, and a licensed office doesn't change Indonesia's rule. If you're unsure about an offer, ask Indonesia's embassy or MOHRE on 600 590000, and read our guide to maid-hiring scams before you reply.
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