The Ministry has shut 230 unlicensed domestic worker recruitment accounts found advertising placement services without licences — a move that underlines growing regulator action against online, unregulated recruitment. This affects families who hire help via social media and stresses the need to use authorised centres.
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MoHRE shuts 230 unlicensed domestic worker recruitment accounts
The ministry said the accounts were operating outside the regulator’s licensing framework and were not affiliated with approved recruitment offices. The steps were taken after checks showed those social pages were promoting domestic-worker placement without the legal licence required in the UAE.
MoHRE’s statement was carried by the official Emirates news agency and followed earlier months of targeted enforcement against online recruiters. The ministry says the closures aim to reduce fraud and protect both employers and workers.
Joint action with TDRA targets illegal online adverts
MoHRE acted in coordination with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority to trace, flag and request takedown of offending profiles on multiple platforms. This partnership speeds enforcement and allows authorities to submit formal takedown requests to platform operators.
The ministry points to a steady rise in adverts for domestic-worker services on social media. A previous coordinated sweep removed dozens of accounts earlier in the year, showing a continuing campaign against online illegal recruitment.
Risks for UAE employers and families
Using unlicensed channels brings clear risks. Employers who hire through rogue pages may face: no background checks on workers, unclear or non-existent contracts, payment scams and limited legal recourse if disputes arise. These accounts also bypass the safeguards embedded in the Domestic Workers Law.
Practical red flags on social media include: profiles asking for advance cash via informal channels, lack of physical office details, refusal to show licence documents, or offers that seem too cheap or rushed. If a post pressures you to pay before seeing paperwork, be highly suspicious.
How to verify licensed domestic worker service centres
- Consult the MoHRE published list of approved domestic-worker service centres before you engage any recruiter. The ministry updates the directory regularly.
- Ask the agency for its licence number and confirm it against MoHRE’s official list or the ministry’s approved-centres PDF.
- Visit the agency’s physical office when possible and ask for contracts in English and Arabic. Keep signed copies.
- Never send large sums through non-traceable methods. Use bank transfers or receipts that create a clear paper trail.
- Report suspicious adverts or accounts immediately to MoHRE’s hotline and to the hosting social-media platform.
Continued enforcement against illegal recruitment
MoHRE has repeatedly penalised illegal recruiters, shutting unlicensed offices and social pages in prior actions. Enforcement in 2024–2025 included multiple raids, fines and account takedowns, illustrating the ministry’s zero-tolerance approach. The latest 230-account action continues that pattern.
Authorities warn that illegal recruitment can lead to worker exploitation and human-trafficking risks, which the Domestic Workers Law and its executive regulations were designed to prevent. Employers who use unlicensed mediators risk losing statutory protections.
