Household Staffing Agency
in Dubai
Hire Household Staff in Dubai with the leaders in high-net-worth domestic recruitment.
Morgan & Mallet is a household staffing agency in Dubai that places proven and experienced staff in high-net-worth homes.
We place housekeepers, nannies, butlers, private chefs and chauffeurs chosen for proven ability and absolute discretion.
As a private and domestic staff agency, we place permanent, live-in and live-out staff across the city, and we are part of Morgan & Mallet’s household staffing across the UAE.
We place candidates with experience who have already proved they can perform under pressure in demanding environments.
If you are looking for reliable household staff in Dubai you can trust, contact us today.
Why Hire Household Staff in Dubai With Morgan & Mallet?
Global Network
Offices in New York, London, Paris and Dubai place staff across the US, UK, Europe and the UAE.
10+ Years of Expertise
Founded in 2015, with more than 10,000 placements and over 1,200 successful placements every year.
Screened and Vetted
Mandatory criminal-record and reference checks on every candidate, with a 96% placement success rate.
Personalised Matching
A multilingual recruiting team, fluent in English, Arabic, French, Hindi and Tagalog for Dubai’s multicultural households.
Built by Former Staff Who Know What HNW Families Actually Need
Our founders worked inside high-net-worth homes before launching Morgan & Mallet in 2015. Laurine Mallet worked as a nanny in London and Morgan Richez as an executive butler, so they built the agency from the staff side, understanding what principals need before it’s said.
When clients began relocating to Dubai, the agency followed and opened a local office at 48 Burj Gate.
- Mandatory reference checks written into every contract.
- Three-month replacement guarantee on all placements.
- Compliance support for UAE employment law, payroll and visas.
Areas We Serve for Household Staffing in Dubai
We have found that each of Dubai’s areas needs a slightly different type of team.
- Emirates Hills – AED 16m-100m+ villas – staff needed are nannies, housekeepers, estate managers and private chefs, often who can speak more than one language.
- Downtown Dubai – AED 4.2m-12.6m apartments – staff most often needed here are butlers, chauffeurs and housekeepers.
- Palm Jumeirah – AED 10.5m-115m+ waterfront villas – staff we most often place are house managers, security staff, private chefs and domestic couples.
- Dubai Marina – AED 900k-8m apartments – staff hired here are nannies, private chefs and estate managers.
- Jumeirah – AED 1.16m-20m homes – household staff in this area are often housekeepers and personal assistants who can work with different cultures.
Other areas we place staff are Dubai Hills, Al Barari, Jumeirah Islands and across the rest of the UAE.
Dubai Domestic Staff Positions: What Our HNW / UHNW Families Hire
Nannies in Dubai are often hired to help with school runs to international schools.
Ellie Littlechild from our Dubai office mentions an Emirates Hills search where a family specifically asked for a nanny fluent in three languages who could support their children’s British curriculum education while working with private tutors.
Housekeepers in Dubai keep clean, organized luxury villas, with many families wanting VIP-standard care.
Housekeepers are a very popular role for us to place in Dubai.
Estate managers look after property maintenance, staff management, and household operations.
They need to be able to manage teams of staff across multiple properties in many cases.
Private chefs work with dietary requirements and host events, sometimes with international travel as well.
Ellie Littlechild our recruiter says that European or British clients often prefer their chefs to explore Asian or Arabic cuisine rather than replicate home country dishes, with Japanese cuisine being particularly popular.
- Private chef salaries in the UAE range from AED 180,000 to AED 360,000+ for European, UK, and US candidates.
Chauffeurs are needed for commuting between emirates and managing private jet arrivals, with extreme heat driving expertise being really essential here.
We see that Indian and Pakistani nationals are the most common nationality for chauffeur roles in Dubai, with around 200 applications received per posted position.
Household Staff Salaries in Dubai
Dubai has become a top hub for luxury household staffing, largely because of zero income tax policy and business-friendly regulations.
Salaries here depend on the role and the experience the candidate has, but also whether the role is live-in or live-out and if language skills are needed.
Position | Salary Range (AED) | Example Placement Made by Morgan & Mallet | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Full-Time Live-Out Nanny | 216,000 – 300,000 | Newly relocated family seeks caring, experienced live-out nanny for three children including a newborn, providing full care while older children are at school and working collaboratively with mother on maternity leave. | Dubai |
Full-Time Private Pilates Instructor/Personal Trainer | 250,000 – 400,000 | Prominent UHNW couple based between Egypt and Dubai seeks highly polished, discreet Pilates instructor/personal trainer with exceptional high-profile client experience for unique role involving extensive worldwide travel. | Dubai |
Full-Time Private Chef | 180,000 – 360,000 | European family relocated to Dubai seeks experienced live-in private chef who follows kosher lifestyle to prepare daily meals with fresh ingredients including special Shabbat dinners every Friday. | Palm Jumeirah |
Full-Time Live-In Nanny/Housekeeper | 180,000 – 300,000 | Family in Dubai Hills seeks experienced live-in nanny/housekeeper with proven UHNW experience for two boys aged eight and ten, combining housekeeping during school hours with childcare when children are home. | Dubai Hills |
Full-Time Nanny/Housekeeper | 180,000 – 300,000 | Household in Umm Suqeim seeks reliable, organized housekeeper/nanny with primary focus on housekeeping duties and approximately 20% childcare for a two-year-old boy, maintaining high standards of cleanliness. | Umm Suqeim |
Three Mistakes That Derail Dubai Household Staff Recruitment
Finding the Right Professional Distance
A warm, respectful relationship with household staff matters. But they work for you, and keeping that boundary clear helps everyone.
Recruiters from our Dubai office say that families who blur this line often struggle when it’s time to give feedback or address performance issues.
The right balance means you can lead with kindness while still managing effectively.
Our Morgan & Mallet recruiters are more than happy to help you establish clear expectations that feel natural from day one.
Vague Duty Descriptions
Our team in Dubai says, in job descriptions, avoid unclear language like “light housekeeping” or “occasional travel.”
Be explicit: “Deep clean including moving furniture: once monthly” or “Travel required: approximately two weeks per month, primarily to London and Abu Dhabi.”
Ellie Littlechild from our Dubai office emphasizes that clarity around prayer time accommodations, Ramadan schedules, and gender-specific service requirements stops misunderstandings.
Poor Contract Structure
The best contracts include clear core duties while adding flexibility, language like: “Additional reasonable tasks as requested” and “Primary residence Dubai, with flexibility for family relocations within the UAE and internationally.”
Ellie Littlechild from our Dubai team says that contracts should address multi-residence management, international travel expectations, and visa sponsorship responsibilities.
Our Morgan & Mallet recruiters are more than happy to help draft compliant contracts.
UAE Household Employment Laws Made Simple
The UAE has clear laws for domestic workers, covering minimum protections and fair rights. These rules, updated in recent years, ensure proper treatment and pay for household staff.
Standard work is up to 12 hours a day with rest breaks, and overtime must be paid beyond agreed hours at extra rates like basic wage plus 25%.
No fixed national minimum wage exists, but contracts often start around AED 2,000 monthly depending on the role, with one paid day off each week.
Live-in workers get 30 days annual leave after a year, sick pay, safe housing, food, health insurance and end-of-service benefits.
Employers must follow MoHRE contracts for duties, pay and disputes, banning violence and requiring workers’ compensation.
Morgan & Mallet offers our own Employer of Record services in Dubai so you can hand off the whole process to us.
Note: This is general information only, not legal advice – always check with lawyers for your situation.
Dubai Hiring: Insider Knowledge from Morgan & Mallet
The insights below come from a call with Ellie Littlechild, a Morgan & Mallet recruiter based in Dubai, who previously worked as a nanny for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth households in England and Dubai before joining the agency as a recruiter.
Clients planning to hire need to know when the market is most active and when families travel. If they’re hiring in summer, they should expect slower response times.
If they’re hiring in September or January, they’ll have more candidates available but also more competition from other families.
Morgan & Mallet now starts advertising on its job board and other platforms in August, anticipating high demand in September.
This proactive approach allows the agency to build a pipeline of vetted candidates and fulfill placements faster once families return from summer travel.
This demonstrates the extreme end of the salary spectrum and shows clients what true 24/7 availability costs in the UHNW market.
Ellie once interviewed a candidate who was earning 100,000 AED per month working for a UHNW client, but that role required him to be on call 24/7, 365 days a year.
It helps clients understand the relationship between expectations and compensation, and sets a benchmark for what extreme flexibility demands.
For ultra-high-net-worth families, hiring a British or French butler is about representation and prestige.
But there’s a practical reason too: Western passport holders can often travel more freely with principals across multiple jurisdictions, unlike other passport holders who require visas for each destination.
This flexibility alone pushes wages up, as the butler becomes viable for international assignments without visa delays or restrictions.
Many Dubai clients tend to be more flexible with candidate nationality and location compared to families settling permanently.
They’re typically in Dubai for business expansion or tax planning, often staying two to five years before returning to Europe or the UK, so they prioritize efficiency over perfection.
It also explains why contracts need flexibility clauses for relocation and why families may value staff who can transition back to Europe with them.
Practical considerations (physical stamina for a two-year-old in Dubai heat) are valid hiring criteria. This helps clients work out age preferences without feeling discriminatory, because it’s tied to job performance.
Very specific requirements (European + UAE-based + UAE license) can narrow the candidates we can choose from right down and make the search take longer.
Ellie recalls one search that began in September and continued for months because the family wanted all three above criteria met. This helps set realistic expectations about how long unique requests take.
Meet Your UAE
Regional Team
Dubai
office address
48 Burj Gate, Dubai Mall Metro Station Level 20 - Downtown Dubai
Phone number
+971 58 693 2876
opening hours
Monday - Thursday : 9AM - 6PM
Friday : 9AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday : Closed
Frequently Asked
Questions
How long does it typically take to hire household staff in Dubai?
Timelines vary significantly based on role specificity and market conditions.
Standard roles like housekeepers or chauffeurs can be filled within two to four weeks when requirements are clear. But very specific requests can extend to several months.
Before peak seasons, Morgan & Mallet often advertises positions ahead of demand because the agency is confident client requests will come in for common roles like housekeepers and chauffeurs.
This comes from experience in Dubai and other markets, and is done to make hiring faster for clients when they need staff immediately.
Morgan & Mallet‘s reference-checking process is mandatory for every candidate before shortlisting, which our recruiters note adds thoroughness but ensures quality.
Can I hire staff who are currently outside the UAE, or do they need to already be in Dubai?
Most applications come from candidates already based in the UAE, but we also receive resumes from India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Some clients are flexible with candidate location, while others specifically require UAE-based staff to avoid relocation delays.
Morgan Richez, M&M co-founder, notes that when families relocate to Dubai and want to bring existing staff from the UK or France, M&M can assist with visa processing, medical tests, and insurance through local partners.
The agency charges AED 8,500 for Dubai visa services, which is typically less expensive than families arranging it independently due to M&M’s supplier relationships and volume.
This information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.
What are the visa sponsorship requirements for household staff in Dubai?
Morgan Richez explains that to provide visas in Dubai, employers must sponsor through GDRFA and MOHRE processes, including work permits, medical tests, Emirates ID, and health insurance. Morgan & Mallet works with local legal partners who handle the full visa process.
Our recruiters note that families benefit from using Morgan & Mallet’s payroll and visa services because the agency’s volume with suppliers results in lower costs. We can charge less than other companies and less than if a client did it themselves because we have a large volume of requests every year. The service includes organizing medical tests, insurance, and all administrative paperwork.
This information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.
Do I need to provide accommodation for live-in staff, or can I give a housing allowance instead?
Live-in accommodation must be clearly described in the contract, including what is included, what is not included, and what staff are allowed to do inside the property. There is no separate rental contract, but the employment contract should specify accommodation terms.
Families hiring live-out staff normally give housing allowances as part of the salary package.
What happens if a staff member wants to leave before their contract ends?
Morgan Richez our co-founder explains that Dubai’s labor framework is flexible compared to European markets. In the UAE, termination can happen relatively quickly with proper notice periods and end-of-service benefits, per MOHRE rules.
For live-in staff, Morgan notes that accommodation is a tricky issue during termination. Families cannot simply ask staff to leave the property immediately.
Best practice is to provide at least one month’s notice to allow staff time to find alternative accommodation or another position, even after the contract has been terminated. Our recruiters guide families on structuring contracts with clear exit terms.
How do I handle staff during Ramadan? Do I need to adjust schedules or duties?
Clarity around prayer time accommodations and Ramadan schedules stops any misunderstandings.
Families should discuss expectations upfront, including whether fasting staff will have adjusted work hours, break times for iftar, and any flexibility needed for Taraweeh prayers.
Are background checks and reference checks different in Dubai than in the UK or US?
We follow the same reference-checking process globally, regardless of location.
After interviewing candidates, recruiters check references and call previous employers, verifying ID and criminal records.
The information is logged in the CRM so other recruiters don’t duplicate calls, as some references prefer not to be contacted repeatedly.
We check all documents including criminal records as part of standard due diligence.
International references are accepted and verified, making sure families receive the same level of vetting whether hiring in Dubai, London, or New York.
How do I terminate a staff member's employment legally in Dubai?
Dubai’s employment termination process is more flexible than in the UK or US. Employers can terminate staff relatively easily with proper notice, but must handle accommodation logistics professionally per MOHRE guidelines.
For live-in staff, we ask that families give adequate time, typically one month, for staff to vacate the property and find alternative housing.
Contracts should specify notice periods, end-of-service benefits, and accommodation exit terms.
Our recruiters give guidance on UAE labor law compliance and help draft contracts that protect both parties during termination.
What is Morgan & Mallet's step-by-step process for placing household staff?
Morgan & Mallet follows a structured six-step placement process built from years of experience placing candidates globally.
- Initial Client Consultation The recruiter conducts a detailed conversation to understand the family’s needs, household structure, and expectations. Every recruiter at Morgan & Mallet, whether based in New York, London, France, or Dubai, follows the same professional intake process to ensure consistency.
- Candidate Search and Shortlisting Recruiters search Morgan & Mallet’s database of over 53,000 registered candidates using the agency’s custom ATS system. Our talent acquisition team continuously registers candidates for popular roles like housekeepers, chauffeurs, and butlers, ensuring a ready pipeline.
- Candidate Interviews Selected candidates undergo thorough interviews with Morgan & Mallet recruiters, who assess experience, presentation, communication skills, and cultural fit for the specific household.
- Reference and Background Checks Morgan & Mallet recruiters check all references, call previous employers, and verify ID and criminal records. This information is logged in the CRM so other recruiters don’t duplicate calls.
- Video Introduction Before arranging costly travel, Morgan & Mallet organizes one or two video calls between the client or family office and the candidate to ensure mutual interest and compatibility.
- Final Placement and Support Once both parties agree, Morgan & Mallet assists ongoing support during the placement period, with a three-month guarantee on all placements.
Talk to Dubai Recruiters Who Know the Market
Morgan & Mallet places trusted household staff into Dubai’s most demanding homes, from Emirates Hills compounds to Palm Jumeirah waterfront properties.
Our recruiters understand visa sponsorship, MOHRE compliance, and Ramadan accommodations.
We handle reference checks, background verification, and contract structuring so you avoid the mistakes that derail placements.
Morgan & Mallet has placed over 10,000 candidates globally since 2015, maintaining a 96% placement success rate globally.
Contact our Dubai office at 48 Burj Gate or call tel:+971 58 693 2876 to discuss your household staffing requirements with recruiters who know the market.