The rule that decides everything
In the UAE a worker's residence and work permit are tied to the employer who sponsors them. A cleaner sponsored by a cleaning company may work only for that company. A domestic worker sponsored by a household may work only for that household.
That is why the cheap freelance cleaner who arrives on a bus, charges AED 25 an hour in cash and offers to come every Tuesday is working outside the rules. The worker may be on a visit visa, on another employer's sponsorship or an absconder from a sponsor. Hiring that person puts the worker at risk of arrest and deportation, and it exposes you.
Employing a worker who is not sponsored by you or a licensed provider is an offence under the labour and domestic worker laws, and penalties fall on the person who hires. This guide explains the legal routes and what they cost.
Route 1: a licensed cleaning company
A licensed cleaning company holds a trade licence with a cleaning activity from the emirate's economic department (DET in Dubai, ADDED in Abu Dhabi, SEDD in Sharjah), employs its cleaners on work permits issued through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and takes responsibility for them. Cleaners wear uniforms and ID, the company brings the products and equipment and a supervisor answers for quality.
The advantage is accountability. If a cleaner breaks something, the company has insurance, and if a cleaner is ill, the company sends another. If something goes missing, you have a licensed counterpart to complain to.
Prices as of October 2026: AED 35 to 50 per cleaner-hour, with a typical minimum booking of 2 to 4 hours, plus VAT of 5 percent where the company is registered. Equipment and materials are often included in the rate or charged at AED 20 to 50 per visit. These are typical Dubai prices; in the other emirates prices are often similar or somewhat lower.
Route 2: Tadbeer and domestic worker service centres
Tadbeer centres are licensed by MOHRE to provide domestic workers to households, either on a long-term contract or on a flexible basis by the hour, the day or the month. The worker is employed and insured by the centre, and the household pays the centre, not the worker.
Flexible hourly packages from a Tadbeer centre commonly cost AED 35 to 55 an hour, depending on the minimum hours and the nationality package, and the centre handles replacement, medical insurance and the contract. You get the legal protection that a freelance arrangement lacks.
For a permanent live-in or live-out helper, you sponsor the worker yourself through a Tadbeer centre under the domestic worker law. That brings a fixed cost for the visa, recruitment fee and insurance in addition to monthly pay, so compare with hourly packages before you commit.
What to ask before the first booking
Before you confirm, ask these questions and keep the answers in writing.
- What is the company's trade licence number, and which cleaning activity does it cover?
- Who employs the cleaners, and are they on the company's work permits?
- Will the same cleaners come each time? Can I see their ID on arrival?
- Are products and equipment included, and which products are used on stone, wood and glass?
- What insurance covers breakage or theft, and how do I claim?
- What is the minimum booking, the cancellation window and the fee for a late cancellation?
- Is VAT included in the quote?
A company that answers these clearly is usually the one that does the job properly. Check the licence with our guide to verifying a trade licence.
What cleaning costs in 2026
A regular clean of a one-bedroom flat by a licensed company typically costs AED 150 to 250 for three to four hours. A two-bedroom villa clean runs AED 300 to 600.
A deep clean, which includes inside cupboards, oven, fridge, grout and windows, costs AED 350 to 700 for a one-bedroom flat and AED 800 to 2,000 for a three-bedroom villa, at the AED 35 to 50 per hour rate with two to four cleaners. Move-out cleaning for a handover often costs AED 400 to 1,200 and may be required by the landlord.
Sofa, mattress and carpet cleaning are priced per item, typically AED 80 to 250. Our cleaning price guide lists the full ranges.
Red flags
Be careful with a cleaner who is reachable only by WhatsApp, who has no company name, who asks to be paid in cash and who cannot say who sponsors them. Be careful with an extremely low hourly rate. An all-in cost below about AED 30 an hour, with materials, is below what a licensed provider can pay a worker's salary, visa and insurance from.
Be careful with an agency that sells "part-time maids" and cannot show a MOHRE or Tadbeer licence. Be careful with anyone who asks for your keys without an agreement or who sends a different person every time.
If something goes wrong
If an item is broken or missing, tell the company in writing within 24 hours, with photos and the booking reference. A licensed company should respond within two to three working days. Check your home contents insurance too.
If you suspect theft, report it to the police (in Dubai, call 901 or use the Dubai Police app; elsewhere, your emirate's police non-emergency line or app), and give the company's details. Do not confront an individual cleaner.
If you used a freelancer and something went wrong, your position is weak because there is no licensed counterpart. You can report a theft, but you may also be questioned about the arrangement. That is the cost of the cheap option. For disputes with a licensed company, the consumer protection section of the emirate's economic department (DET in Dubai, ADDED in Abu Dhabi, SEDD in Sharjah) takes complaints.
Any AED amounts in this guide are typical ranges for Dubai as of October 2026; prices in other emirates are often similar or lower. They are not quotes and not offers: real prices depend on the job, the company and the date, so ask for written quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to hire a freelance cleaner in the UAE?
A worker may work only for the employer who sponsors their visa. Hiring a cleaner who is not employed by a licensed provider or sponsored by you breaches the labour and domestic worker rules, and the penalties fall on the person who hires.
What is a Tadbeer centre?
A service centre licensed by MOHRE to provide domestic workers to households on long-term or flexible contracts. The centre employs and insures the worker and handles replacement.
How much is deep cleaning per hour?
Typically AED 35 to 50 per cleaner per hour in 2026 for a licensed company, usually with two to four cleaners and a minimum booking of 3 to 4 hours.
Should I give the cleaner my Emirates ID?
No. A reputable company never needs it. Ask for the cleaner's own ID on arrival and a copy of the company's licence and insurance.
