Dubai Police has advised residents to engage only licensed agencies when hiring temporary domestic workers on an hourly or daily basis, issuing a set of safety guidelines aimed at strengthening household security.
The advisory is part of a broader awareness drive targeting recruitment fraud and home safety risks across the emirate.
Why is Dubai Police urging residents to use licensed domestic worker agencies?
Dubai Police wants residents to hire domestic workers exclusively through authorized channels to reduce the risk of theft, fraud and harm to household members. Unverified workers arranged through unlicensed offices or social media pose safety risks, and scams linked to fake recruitment agencies have already resulted in financial losses for residents.
Reporting suspicious behavior and verifying worker credentials before allowing entry are among the key steps recommended.
What are Dubai Police's home safety guidelines for hiring domestic workers?
Residents were advised to verify the identity and credentials of any domestic worker before allowing them into the home. Police also recommended securing cash, jewellery and important documents, keeping valuables out of sight to reduce the risk of theft. The advisory further urged close supervision of children and elderly family members, warning against leaving them alone with unfamiliar or unverified individuals.
Dubai Police called on the public to report any suspicious behavior by temporary workers, describing home safety as a shared responsibility. Incidents can be reported via the Police Eye feature on the Dubai Police smart app or by calling 901 for non-emergency cases.
What recruitment fraud cases have been reported in Dubai?
In January, Dubai Police reported a case in which a woman lost Dh10,000 after responding to a fake recruitment agency advertised on social media.
Authorities said such scams typically begin with attractive offers, after which victims lose contact with the fraudsters. Police reiterated warnings against dealing with unlicensed offices or social media-based recruiters.
What action has the UAE taken against unlicensed domestic worker agencies?
In February, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization said it shut down 12 unlicensed domestic worker recruitment agencies and referred cases to the Public Prosecution in coordination with economic departments. The ministry also reported 300 violations involving 57 recruitment offices across the country in 2025. Enforcement systems have since been strengthened to detect and act on breaches more quickly.
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