Domestic worker recruitment in Saudi Arabia
A route-level summary of domestic worker recruitment in Saudi Arabia — legal routes, key requirements, costs, timelines and the Ployer workflow — with links to every guide in the Saudi Arabia cluster.
The short answer
Saudi Arabia regulates domestic worker recruitment through Musaned, the electronic platform of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). Employers choose among four main routes: agency recruitment, custom contracting, a known worker via the Maarofa service, or transfer of an existing worker. Each route runs its permit, insurance, salary and arrival steps through Musaned. This hub links the full Saudi cluster: Musaned guides, transfers, salary payments, insurance, costs and nationality guides.
The Saudi recruitment process at a glance
Define the role
Housekeeper, nanny, cook, driver or caregiver — with duties, hours and accommodation.
Choose your route
Agency, custom contracting, known worker (Maarofa) or transfer — each runs through Musaned.
Find and compare candidates
Review verified skills, experience, languages and availability before deciding.
Verify and interview
Check key facts and speak with the worker before committing.
Process via Musaned
Complete the recruitment, contract, insurance and salary steps on the official platform.
Arrival and onboarding
Welcome the worker, complete final formalities and keep documents in one place.
Who is this hub for?
This hub is the starting point for households and family offices in Saudi Arabia — Saudi citizens and expatriate residents — planning to hire a domestic worker lawfully and safely. It summarises the legal routes, then points to the detailed guide for each stage.
- Employers hiring a domestic helper for the first time
- Households replacing a departing worker
- Families sponsoring a known worker from their home country
- Sponsors transferring an existing worker
Which legal routes exist in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia channels domestic worker recruitment through Musaned, the electronic platform operated under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). Four main routes are available to employers.
| Route | How it works | Who leads |
|---|---|---|
| Agency route | A licensed recruitment office sources and imports the worker; recruitment, contract and follow-up run through Musaned | Licensed agency |
| Custom contracting | The employer contracts a specific worker through Musaned with custom terms rather than a standard package | Employer |
| Known worker (Maarofa) | The employer brings in a known worker from abroad through the Maarofa service on Musaned | Employer |
| Transfer route | An existing worker's sponsorship is transferred to the new employer | Employer + current sponsor |
Saudi Arabia routes at a glance. All routes run through Musaned; current platform requirements should be confirmed before starting.
What are the key steps employers can't skip?
- Confirm your eligibility and open or access your Musaned account.
- Choose your route: agency, custom contracting, known worker (Maarofa) or transfer.
- Select the worker and agree duties, salary, accommodation and contract terms in writing.
- Complete the recruitment and contract steps through Musaned, including insurance and salary arrangements.
- Process the entry visa steps and arrange travel for the worker.
- On arrival, complete final formalities and keep every document on record.
What do costs and timelines look like in brief?
Total cost depends heavily on the route: agency packages, custom contracting, known-worker cases and transfers carry different fee structures, plus insurance, medical, visa and travel elements. Timeline varies with the route and source country — see the dedicated guides for planning detail.
| Item | In brief | Where to get detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment cost | Differs by route — agency package, custom contract, known worker or transfer | Saudi domestic worker recruitment cost |
| Insurance | Domestic worker insurance is a required element of the arrangement | Saudi domestic worker insurance explained |
| Salary payments | Salary arrangements are processed and recorded through the official framework | Domestic worker salary payments in Saudi Arabia |
| Timeline | Route- and source-country dependent; confirm current processing on Musaned | Musaned domestic worker hiring guide |
Planning notes as of September 2026. Confirm current official figures before starting.
What protections do workers receive?
The Musaned framework exists so domestic workers are employed through recorded, accountable arrangements — with contracts, insurance and salary channels under the regulator's oversight. Ployer supports this by keeping the employment route explicit: written terms, tracked documents, clear responsibilities, and a guided process on both sides.
- Written contract with clear duties and salary
- Insurance as a required element
- Recorded salary payment arrangements
- Employer accountability through the Musaned workflow
Which Saudi Arabia guides should I read next?
Every stage of the Saudi process is covered by a dedicated guide. Start with the Riyadh hiring guide and the Musaned walkthrough, then move to your specific route and nationality.
- [How to hire a domestic worker in Riyadh](/guides/how-to-hire-a-domestic-worker-in-riyadh/)
- [Musaned domestic worker hiring guide](/guides/musaned-domestic-worker-hiring-guide/)
- [Musaned custom contracting explained](/guides/musaned-custom-contracting-explained/)
- [Musaned known worker (Maarofa) guide](/guides/musaned-known-worker--maarofa-guide/)
- [Domestic worker transfer in Saudi Arabia](/guides/domestic-worker-transfer-saudi-arabia/)
- [Domestic worker salary payments in Saudi Arabia](/guides/domestic-worker-salary-payments-saudi-arabia/)
- [Saudi domestic worker insurance explained](/guides/saudi-domestic-worker-insurance-explained/)
- [Saudi domestic worker recruitment cost](/guides/saudi-domestic-worker-recruitment-cost/)
- [Filipino maid Saudi Arabia guide](/guides/filipino-maid-saudi-arabia-guide/)
- [Kenyan maid Saudi Arabia guide](/guides/kenyan-maid-saudi-arabia-guide/)
- [Nanny Saudi Arabia hiring guide](/guides/nanny-saudi-arabia-hiring-guide/)
- [GCC domestic worker visa comparison](/guides/gcc-domestic-worker-visa-comparison/)
- [GCC domestic worker medical comparison](/guides/gcc-domestic-worker-medical-comparison/)
- [GCC domestic worker recruitment cost comparison](/guides/gcc-domestic-worker-recruitment-cost-comparison/)
- [How much does it cost to hire a maid in the GCC](/guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hire-a-maid-in-the-gcc/)
What does Ployer provide?
Ployer is the workflow layer around the official process. Employers describe the role once, compare verified candidate profiles, shortlist, interview, and then follow a country-specific checklist that keeps permits, medical, documents and arrivals on track.
- Structured role intake — helper, nanny, cook, driver or caregiver
- Verified skills passports with experience and language information
- Deterministic eligibility scoring against your requirements
- Document vault with statuses for passport, medical and contract files
- Onboarding journey tracking from offer to work start
- WhatsApp connection so workers and sponsors can stay in touch
Saudi Arabia readiness checklist
Tick off each item as it is completed. Keep this list with your Musaned application folder.
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Common questions
Four main routes run through Musaned: agency recruitment, custom contracting, a known worker via the Maarofa service, and transfer of an existing worker. Each route has its own steps and cost structure — see the dedicated route guides.
Musaned is the official electronic platform for domestic worker recruitment under MHRSD. Current rules, service categories and eligibility should be confirmed on the platform itself before starting.
Yes. The known worker (Maarofa) service on Musaned supports employers bringing in a worker they already know, with its own documented process.
An existing worker's sponsorship can be transferred to a new employer under the rules published by the regulator. See the domestic worker transfer guide for the documented steps.
Costs differ by route — agency packages, custom contracting, known-worker cases and transfers carry different structures, plus insurance, medical, visa and travel. See the recruitment cost guide for planning ranges.
Both nationalities are covered by dedicated Saudi guides — Filipino and Kenyan maid guides — with their source-country document and process notes.
No. Recruitment, contracts, insurance and salary steps are completed through Musaned under MHRSD's rules. Ployer structures and tracks the workflow but never guarantees an official decision.
What we can evidence on this page
Ployer does not publish fabricated reviews or self-awarded star ratings. Where evidence exists it is shown with its source and date; where it does not exist yet, it is stated plainly.
- Official source review — All route and requirement statements on this hub are drawn from the government portals listed in sources.
- Regulator-mapped routes — Routes reflect the structures published by Musaned and MHRSD as of September 2026.
- Editorial review — Reviewed by Ployer Compliance & Editorial Review before publication.
- Date-stamped accuracy — Checked 2026-09-21; requirements change, so confirm current details before acting.
- No guarantees — Ployer never guarantees official permits, visas or decisions — those rest with the authorities.
Related guides
Official sources and references
- Musaned — official domestic worker recruitment platform
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) — official site
Tell us who you need.
Describe the role once — Ployer structures the requirements, shows verified matches and tracks the Saudi Arabia workflow.