Hiring a nanny in Saudi Arabia: a practical guide
A plain-language walkthrough of hiring a nanny in Saudi Arabia — how the role fits the official Musaned framework, what to ask in interviews, and how Ployer structures the workflow.
The short answer
Hiring a nanny in Saudi Arabia is a domestic worker engagement run through the official Musaned portal under MHRSD. Nannies hold a childcare role — duties, hours and accommodation set in the employment contract — and follow the same routes as other domestic workers: licensed agency, custom contracting, known worker (Maarofa) or transfer. Salary figures are indicative only.
The nanny hiring process at a glance
Define the nanny role
Children's ages, daily duties, working hours, live-in arrangements and any cooking or light housework expected.
Register on Musaned
Create the employer account on the official Musaned portal and confirm eligibility.
Choose a route and shortlist
Use a licensed agency, custom contracting, the known-worker (Maarofa) service or transfer, and review candidates.
Interview and verify
Ask structured childcare questions, check experience and documents, and verify key facts before committing.
Complete contract, insurance and payment
Finalize the employment contract, insurance and the required payment steps through the Musaned workflow.
Arrival and onboarding
Welcome the nanny, set house rules and routines, and track onboarding from the start date.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for families in Saudi Arabia — Saudi households and expatriate residents — who want to hire a nanny for their children through a lawful, documented process. It also helps companies and family offices that employ childcare staff understand the same Musaned framework.
- Families hiring a nanny for the first time
- Households needing childcare alongside domestic help
- Expatriate families recruiting a nanny from abroad
- Families sponsoring a nanny already present in Saudi Arabia
What does a nanny do in Saudi Arabia?
In Saudi Arabia a nanny is hired as a domestic worker, with childcare as the core of the role. Duties, hours, accommodation and salary are set out in the employment contract, so the role should be written down before any candidate is approached.
- Childcare as the primary duty — feeding, bathing, play and supervision
- School runs, bedtime routines and age-appropriate activities
- Live-in or live-out arrangements, agreed in advance
- Optional cooking and light housework, only if agreed in the contract
How does hiring a nanny work in Saudi Arabia?
Nannies are engaged as domestic workers under the Musaned framework operated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). Employers register on Musaned and choose the route that fits — recruitment through licensed agencies, custom contracting (choose from resumes and submit an offer via a recruitment office), the known-worker route (Maarofa, for selected nationalities using passport and contact details), or the digitized transfer service.
- Register on Musaned and confirm your employer account and eligibility.
- Choose a route: licensed agency recruitment, custom contracting, known worker (Maarofa) or transfer.
- Define the childcare role and review CVs against duties, experience and languages.
- Interview the candidate and verify documents before committing.
- Complete the employment contract, insurance and required payment steps through the Musaned workflow.
- Arrange travel and arrival, then onboard the nanny.
What should I ask a nanny in the interview?
Childcare interviews should go beyond a CV. Ask about experience with specific ages, daily routines and how the candidate handles real situations, then confirm the practical terms of the arrangement.
- Experience with your children's ages and any special needs
- First-aid training and how they handle emergencies
- Approach to routines, feeding, sleep and discipline
- Language skills — what they speak and what you expect
- Live-in or live-out expectations and overnight duties
- Days off, leave and communication while working
- House rules — phone use, visitors, smoking — and whether they accept them
- How they would handle a child's illness or a household emergency
How is a nanny different from other domestic roles?
All domestic worker roles run through the same Musaned framework, but duties and skills differ. Use the table below to compare the nanny role with common alternatives.
| Role | Typical focus | Typical duties |
|---|---|---|
| Nanny | Childcare | Feeding, bathing, play, supervision, school runs, bedtime routines |
| House maid / domestic helper | Household upkeep | Cleaning, laundry, tidying, light cooking support |
| Cook | Meal preparation | Cooking to the household's preferences and dietary needs |
| Driver / caregiver | Transport or care | Driving, errands, elder care, assisted support |
Role comparison for planning. Final duties are defined in each worker's employment contract.
Which documents are required?
The exact document list depends on the route you choose and the worker's source country, but the core set is consistent across Saudi domestic worker engagements.
| Document | Who provides it | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Passport (valid well beyond the contract period) | Worker | Identity, visa and source-country exit processing |
| Employment contract | Employer + worker | Terms, duties, hours, salary, accommodation |
| Musaned request and approval records | Employer / Musaned | Records the official Saudi route |
| Medical fitness screening result | Approved medical provider | Required before arrival in Saudi Arabia |
| Passport photos | Worker | Permit and residence documents |
| Childcare references or certificates | Worker | Supports experience and training claims |
Core Saudi domestic worker document set for a nanny hire. Confirm the current list on Musaned.
How much does a nanny cost in Saudi Arabia?
Total cost splits into official government fees, medical charges, travel, and any recruitment or service fees, plus the nanny's monthly salary. Figures below are indicative ranges for planning only — confirm the current official fee schedule on Musaned before starting.
| Cost item | Indicative range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Musaned service fees | Varies | Official fees; confirm current schedule |
| Recruitment or service fees | Varies by route | Only through lawful channels |
| Medical screening | Varies | Depends on provider and required tests |
| Travel (airfare) | Varies by source country | Usually employer-funded |
| Monthly nanny salary | SAR 1,000 – SAR 2,500+ | Depends on experience, duties and live-in terms |
Indicative planning ranges as of September 2026. Nanny salaries vary widely with experience and duties.
What should employers check?
- Confirm current Musaned requirements and fees before starting
- Write the nanny role down — duties, hours, accommodation and days off
- Verify the worker's identity, documents and childcare references before payment
- Use licensed recruitment channels; avoid anyone promising visa or permit guarantees
- Ask structured childcare questions in the interview
- Keep the worker's passport handling transparent — do not retain it without consent
- Record every document and its status in one place
What protections do nannies receive?
The Musaned framework exists so domestic workers, including nannies, are employed through recorded, accountable arrangements. 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, hours and salary
- Recorded medical, insurance and permit processing
- Employer accountability through the Musaned workflow
- Clear communication channel between worker and sponsor (including WhatsApp)
Nanny hiring checklist
Tick off each item as it is completed. Keep this list with your application folder.
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Common questions
Yes. Nannies are engaged as domestic workers, and domestic worker hiring in Saudi Arabia runs through the official Musaned portal under MHRSD. Confirm your account and the current steps on Musaned before starting.
No. A nanny's primary focus is childcare — feeding, bathing, supervision and routines — while a maid focuses on household upkeep. Duties, hours and accommodation are defined in the employment contract, so write the role down before hiring.
The routes available on Musaned include recruitment through licensed agencies, custom contracting, the known-worker (Maarofa) service and digitized transfer. Your eligibility and the current service conditions determine which route applies.
Ask about experience with your children's ages, first-aid training, approach to routines and discipline, language skills, live-in expectations, days off and house rules. Confirm how they would handle a child's illness or a household emergency.
Core documents include the worker's passport, a signed employment contract, the Musaned request and approval records, a medical screening result, passport photos and any childcare references. Confirm the current list on Musaned.
Costs include official Musaned service fees, recruitment or service fees, medical screening, travel and monthly salary. Salary ranges are indicative — SAR 1,000 to SAR 2,500+ per month depending on experience, duties and live-in terms. Confirm the current official fees on Musaned.
Yes. Ployer supports structured interviews before commitment, so you can confirm childcare experience, expectations and fit before starting the official process.
No. Permits and visas are issued by MHRSD/Musaned under its own rules. Ployer structures and tracks the workflow but never guarantees an official decision.
Related guides
Official sources and references
Tell us who you need.
Describe the role once — Ployer structures the requirements, shows verified matches and tracks the Saudi Musaned workflow.