Nanny Rights UAE 2026: Contracts, Leave, Gratuity & Passports

Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022, nannies are entitled to a written contract, at least one paid weekly rest day, 30 days paid annual leave after a year, mandatory medical insurance, timely wages, end-of-service gratuity, and protection from abuse. Sponsoring families must cover visa costs, ensure workers retain possession of their own passports, subject to current official guidance, and meet accommodation and flight obligations for live-in roles.

Key Rights of Nannies Under UAE Law

The UAE’s Domestic Workers Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022), updated in subsequent regulations, outlines the following rights for nannies:

Written Employment Contract – detailing salary, duties, leave, and entitlements.
Weekly Rest Day – at least one paid day off per week.
Paid Annual Leave – minimum of 30 days after one year of service.
Medical Insurance – mandatory coverage provided by the employer.
End-of-Service Gratuity – calculated according to years of service, similar to other employees.
Timely Salary Payments – wages must be paid within 10 days of the due date.
Respectful Treatment – protection against abuse, harassment, and forced labour.

Sponsorship & Visa Responsibilities

Families who hire nannies must act as legal sponsors unless going through a licensed agency. Sponsorship includes:

Covering visa application and renewal fees.
Providing accommodation and food for live-in arrangements.
Ensuring return flight tickets to the nanny’s home country every 2 years.
Keeping the nanny’s documents (passport, Emirates ID) in her possession, withholding is illegal.

🔗 UAE Government Portal – Domestic Workers

Working Hours & Rest Periods

Maximum of 12 hours per day, including breaks. This means that the actual working time (excluding breaks).
Nannies must be given adequate breaks for meals, rest, and prayer during the day. These breaks are included in the 12-hour limit.
Nannies must receive at least 8 continuous hours of rest per day, typically overnight.
The law doesn’t explicitly require overtime pay for domestic workers, but any extra hours beyond the 12-hour limit should be mutually agreed upon and compensated fairly.

Protections Against Exploitation

The UAE has taken steps to strengthen worker protections:

Establishing specialized dispute resolution committees for domestic workers.
Allowing nannies to switch employers legally under certain conditions.
Criminalising abuse, forced labour, and human trafficking.

Families should stay updated with regulations from MOHRE and ICP to ensure compliance.

🔗 MOHRE – Domestic Worker Regulations

Why Compliance Benefits Families Too

Beyond avoiding fines or legal disputes, respecting nanny rights leads to:

Stronger trust and retention, reducing turnover.
Better quality of care for children when nannies feel secure.
Positive family reputation in the community.

Compliance isn’t just a legal duty - it’s an investment in household stability.

Looking Ahead

The UAE continues to modernise its labour laws. Looking ahead, we anticipate:

Stricter enforcement of timely wage payments.
Expansion of digital platforms for contract registration.
Greater emphasis on training and certification as part of formalised employment.

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