UAE closes nearly 200 online accounts promoting unlicensed domestic-worker recruitment
MoHRE and the TDRA removed around 200 social-media accounts in the first half of 2026 for advertising domestic-worker services without a licence.
Photo: Toni Hukkanen (CC0 1.0)
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, working with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, has closed around 200 social-media accounts that promoted unlicensed domestic-worker recruitment during the first half of 2026.
Authorities are asking households and employers to use approved recruitment offices and verify providers before transferring money or sharing identity documents. An unlicensed intermediary may leave the hirer and worker without the contractual protections and complaint channels attached to a lawful placement.
The enforcement action is also a warning for HR teams sourcing through social platforms: a polished profile is not evidence that an agency is authorised to operate.
What it means for employers
- Verify a provider's MoHRE licence before engaging or paying it.
- Do not share candidate identity documents through unverified social accounts.
- Keep an approved-supplier list for every recruitment category.
Related pages
Summarised by the Horizon GCC team. Original reporting: Khaleej Times
This briefing is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before acting.
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