57 recruitment offices committed 300 violations in 2025, says Human Resources Ministry.
Dubai: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has shut down 12 offices involved in illegal recruitment of domestic workers without the necessary licences. Their cases have been referred to the public prosecution in coordination with economic development authorities across the UAE.
The ministry also revealed that it detected 300 violations committed by 57 licensed domestic worker recruitment offices during 2025, highlighting the scale of its enforcement drive in the sector.
In a statement, the ministry stressed that it will not tolerate legal or administrative breaches, emphasizing that its inspection and monitoring systems, both field-based and digital, are fully equipped to regulate the sector and address violations firmly and transparently, in accordance with applicable legislation.
The ministry explained that the majority of violations in 2025 involved recruitment offices failing to refund all or part of the recruitment fees to employers within the required two-week period, either from the date the domestic worker returned to the office or from when the worker was reported absent.
Other violations included not clearly displaying Ministry-approved service package prices for customers, recruiting workers without a permit, and conducting recruitment activities without a licence.
Authorities urged customers to engage only with licensed domestic worker recruitment offices, of which there are 136 centres nationwide.
The ministry urged the public to report any malpractice through official channels or by calling 80084 or 600590000. It also advised customers to verify the credibility of service providers advertising on social media before entering into any agreements.
Domestic worker recruitment in the UAE is regulated under specific legal frameworks designed to protect the rights of both workers and employers, with authorities conducting periodic inspections to ensure compliance.
