UAE shuts down 77 sites for illegal domestic worker recruitment

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) announced the closure of 77 social media accounts in cooperation with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) during the first half of this year.

This action was taken after MoHRE confirmed that these accounts were unofficial and lacked the necessary licenses to carry out domestic worker recruitment activities—an explicit legal violation.

MoHRE urged employers, as well as UAE national and resident families, to deal only with licensed and approved domestic worker recruitment agencies, warning against engaging with social media accounts that promote illegal employment services.

In an official statement, the Ministry clarified that dealing with unlicensed recruitment agencies or unreliable social media platforms offering domestic worker services may deprive clients of their legal rights, which are safeguarded when working exclusively with licensed offices.

The Ministry encouraged the public to verify the legitimacy of recruitment entities advertising on social media by contacting its call center at 600590000, and referred users to its official website, www.mohre.gov.ae, where a full list of licensed agencies across the UAE is available.

In February 2025, the Ministry detected 55 entities operating in recruitment, job placement, and labor importation through illegal means. These included offices, websites, and five social media accounts, all found to be engaging in unlicensed recruitment activities during 2024.

This effort was carried out in coordination with the TDRA. The Ministry imposed administrative penalties on violators, including financial fines and restrictions in official records. Legal action was also initiated by referring the cases to the Public Prosecution. In addition, all offending social media accounts were blocked.

The UAE Labor Relations Regulation Law strictly prohibits practicing any recruitment or temporary employment of domestic workers without obtaining the necessary license from MoHRE.

Violators face penalties of at least one year of imprisonment and fines ranging from AED 200,000 to AED 1,000,000, or both. These penalties apply to any individual or entity that engages in recruitment or temporary employment without authorization, in accordance with the law, its executive regulations, and ministerial decisions.

Khalil Al Khoori, Undersecretary for Human Resources Affairs at MoHRE, stated on the Ministry’s official website:

“Legislation criminalizes unlicensed recruitment and mediation practices. The Ministry will not tolerate violations and will strictly enforce legal measures against any company found to be operating without the required license.”

Al Khoori emphasized the effectiveness of MoHRE’s monitoring system in detecting violations, particularly through proactive surveillance of entities advertising recruitment services. The Ministry cross-references advertised information with its internal systems and conducts inspections to take legal action against violators, including referral to the Public Prosecution.

He further noted that MoHRE continuously monitors promotional campaigns on social media and other platforms as part of its inspection mandate. This ensures compliance with labor laws and helps identify potential labor market violations.

Al Khoori called on the public to verify the licensing status of any recruitment or mediation service before engagement, to protect their rights and avoid exploitation. He encouraged reporting illegal recruitment activities through the Ministry’s call center (600590000) or via its smart application.

Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, said in a statement on MoHRE’s official website:

“At the Authority, we embrace our central role in regulating the telecommunications sector and enabling digital transformation. This includes maintaining a high level of readiness to support national missions aligned with the UAE’s ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision, which aims to build the most prosperous society.”

He added: “In this context, we support national efforts and respond to requests from key government entities, including MoHRE, which plays a pivotal role in maintaining labor market stability and fostering an environment conducive to economic growth.”