What is the basic maid salary in Dubai per month?

The basic maid salary in Dubai is AED 1,200 to AED 2,200 per month for a full-time live-in housemaid as of 2026. Filipino maids earn AED 1,800 to AED 2,200, Indian maids earn AED 1,200 to AED 1,800, and Ethiopian maids earn AED 1,200 to AED 1,600. These are base salaries; visa, insurance, and accommodation costs are separate employer expenses.

What is the minimum salary for a Filipino maid in the UAE?

The Filipino maid salary floor is AED 1,835 per month (USD 500), effective October 22, 2025. This was raised from USD 400 (AED 1,470), the first increase since 2006. The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers issued DMW Advisory No. 25, s. 2025. Any Filipino maid salary below AED 1,835 violates the bilateral labor agreement.

How much should I pay a full-time Indian maid in Dubai?

A full-time Indian maid in Dubai earns AED 1,200 to AED 1,800 per month as a housemaid. If the role includes cooking, expect AED 2,000 to AED 3,500. The Indian Embassy sets a minimum of AED 1,200/month. Paying AED 1,500 to AED 1,800 is the competitive range that retains experienced Indian workers.

What is the nanny salary in Dubai?

Nanny salary in Dubai ranges from AED 1,600 to AED 3,000 per month for a full-time live-in nanny. Newborn care specialists earn AED 2,500 to AED 4,500. Filipino nannies are at the higher end (AED 2,000 to AED 3,000). Part-time nanny rates are AED 30 to AED 60 per hour.

Is maid salary in Abu Dhabi higher than Dubai?

No. The maid salary in Abu Dhabi and Dubai is comparable for the same nationality and role. Both are 10% to 20% higher than Sharjah and the northern emirates. The cost difference between Abu Dhabi and Dubai appears in Tadbeer service fees (AED 500 to AED 1,000 higher in Abu Dhabi), not in the worker's actual salary.

What is the cook salary in Dubai for a domestic worker?

Cook salary in Dubai ranges from AED 2,000 to AED 4,000 per month for a private household cook. A general cook earns AED 2,000 to AED 2,500, a multi-cuisine cook earns AED 2,500 to AED 3,500, and a specialized private chef earns AED 3,500 to AED 4,000+. Indian and Filipino cooks command the top of the range.

Maid Salary in Dubai Per Month 2026 - Housemaid Salary Dubai, Filipino Maid Salary UAE, Nanny and Cook Salary by Nationality | ChooseMaid

The maid salary in Dubai depends on three things: nationality, role, and experience. A full-time live-in housemaid earns AED 1,200 to AED 2,200 per month in 2026. A live-out maid earns AED 1,500 to AED 3,000. A nanny earns more. A cook earns more still. But the single biggest factor in what to pay your maid in Dubai is nationality, because source-country embassies set minimum wage floors that override any private agreement.

This page is the salary reference. If you want total hiring costs (visa + agency + Tadbeer + salary), read How Much Does Hiring a Maid Cost in UAE?. If you want visa fees specifically, read Maid Visa Cost in Dubai. This page answers one question: what is the monthly maid salary in Dubai for each role and nationality in 2026?

What Is the Average Maid Salary in Dubai Per Month?

The average maid salary in Dubai is AED 1,500 to AED 2,500 per month for a full-time live-in housemaid as of 2026. The range widens when you include all domestic helper roles:

Role	Monthly Salary (AED)	Notes
Live-in housemaid	1,200 to 2,200	General cleaning, laundry, cooking
Live-out maid	1,500 to 3,000	Higher because worker covers own housing and food
Part-time maid	25 to 60/hour	4 to 5 hours per visit
Nanny / babysitter	1,600 to 3,000	Childcare focus; newborn specialists earn more
Newborn care specialist	2,500 to 4,500	Night duties, infant CPR training, sleep scheduling
Personal cook / chef	2,000 to 4,000	Multi-cuisine skills command the top end
Elderly caregiver	1,800 to 3,500	Medical awareness, mobility assistance
Personal driver	2,500 to 4,500	UAE license required; luxury vehicle experience adds AED 1,000+

These are base salaries. The domestic helper salary in Dubai does not include visa costs, insurance, or transport allowances, which add AED 300 to AED 600/month when amortized. For the full cost picture, see How Much Does Hiring a Maid Cost in UAE?.

Housemaid salary in Dubai grew between 3% and 7% year-on-year in 2026 compared with 2025, according to the GCC Domestic Worker Salary Report. The strongest gains went to Filipino workers (+7%), driven by the new embassy wage floor and high employer demand.

Maid Salary in Dubai by Nationality: The Master Table

Nationality is the single largest factor in maid salary in the UAE. Source-country embassies enforce minimum wage floors. Employers who pay below these floors risk contract disputes, embassy complaints, and MOHRE penalties.

Embassy Minimum Wage Floors (2026)

Nationality	Embassy Minimum (AED/month)	Authority	Last Updated
Filipino	1,835 (USD 500)	Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Advisory No. 25, s. 2025	October 22, 2025
Indonesian	1,400	Indonesian Embassy	Current
Indian	1,200	Indian Embassy	Current
Sri Lankan	1,200	Sri Lankan Embassy	Current
Nepali	1,000	Nepali Embassy	Current
Ethiopian	No fixed floor	N/A	N/A
Bangladeshi	No fixed floor	N/A	N/A

The Filipino minimum wage floor rose from USD 400 to USD 500 per month (AED 1,835) on October 22, 2025. This was the first increase since 2006, a 19-year gap. The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers issued DMW Advisory No. 25, s. 2025 with a six-month transition period for employers to adjust. As of mid-2026, the new floor is fully in effect. Any Filipino maid salary in the UAE below AED 1,835/month violates the bilateral labor agreement.

Full Salary Grid: Nationality × Role (AED/month)

This is the master maid salary table for Dubai and the UAE in 2026. All figures are monthly, for full-time live-in positions. Live-out maid salary in Dubai runs AED 300 to AED 800 higher per role.

Nationality	Housemaid	Nanny	Cook	Elderly Caregiver	Part-Time (AED/hr)
Filipino	1,800 to 2,200	2,000 to 3,000	2,500 to 4,000	2,000 to 3,000	40 to 70
Indian	1,200 to 1,800	1,800 to 2,800	2,000 to 3,500	1,800 to 2,800	30 to 50
Sri Lankan	1,200 to 1,600	1,600 to 2,500	1,600 to 2,500	1,500 to 2,200	25 to 45
Indonesian	1,400 to 1,800	1,600 to 2,500	1,500 to 2,200	1,400 to 2,000	30 to 50
Ethiopian	1,200 to 1,600	1,200 to 1,800	1,000 to 1,600	1,200 to 1,600	20 to 35
Kenyan / Ugandan	1,200 to 1,800	1,500 to 2,200	1,400 to 2,000	1,400 to 2,000	25 to 45
Nepali	1,200 to 1,600	1,200 to 1,800	1,200 to 1,800	1,200 to 1,600	25 to 40

Browse by nationality:

Filipino Maids Indian Maids Indonesian Maids Kenyan Maids Ugandan Maids Nepali Maids

Filipino Maid Salary in UAE: Why It Is the Highest

The Filipino maid salary in the UAE is the highest among all nationalities for three reasons: English fluency, UAE household experience, and the embassy-enforced wage floor.

As of 2026, a full-time Indian maid in Dubai earns AED 1,200 to AED 1,800 for housekeeping, while a Filipino maid doing the same work earns AED 1,800 to AED 2,200. That AED 400 to AED 600 gap is the "Filipino premium," and it holds across every role.

Filipino Maid Salary by Experience Level

Experience	Housemaid (AED/month)	Notes
New (0 to 2 years)	1,800 to 2,200	POEA/DMW-processed; first UAE placement
Experienced (2 to 5 years)	2,000 to 2,500	Prior UAE or GCC household experience
Senior (5+ years)	2,200 to 2,800	Complex household management, multi-tasking
Nanny (childcare)	2,300 to 2,900	+AED 200 to 400 for newborn care
Cook (specialized)	2,400 to 3,000	Culinary training or multi-cuisine skills

A maid with 5+ years of UAE experience typically earns 30% to 50% more than a first-time worker. This experience premium applies across all nationalities, not just Filipino workers.

Filipino domestic worker salaries grew 7% year-on-year in 2026, the highest growth rate among all nationalities in the GCC. In Philippine Peso terms, a housemaid salary of AED 1,800 to AED 2,200 converts to approximately PHP 25,300 to PHP 34,800 per month at mid-2026 exchange rates.

Nanny Salary in Dubai vs Maid Salary: What Is the Difference?

A nanny salary in Dubai is AED 1,600 to AED 3,000 per month, compared to AED 1,200 to AED 2,200 for a housemaid. The gap reflects the specialized responsibility of childcare: supervision, developmental activities, school runs, and sometimes tutoring.

Role	Salary Range (AED/month)	Why It Costs More
Housemaid (cleaning + laundry)	1,200 to 2,200	General household duties
Nanny (childcare)	1,600 to 3,000	Child safety responsibility, developmental awareness
Nanny + housekeeper (combined)	2,000 to 3,500	Dual role; most common in smaller households
Newborn specialist	2,500 to 4,500	Night shifts, infant CPR, feeding schedules

Many families hire one person to handle both housekeeping and childcare. When maid and nanny duties are combined, the salary should reflect both roles. Paying a housemaid salary for nanny-level responsibility is the most common underpayment mistake in Dubai.

Cook Salary in Dubai: What to Pay a Private Cook

A cook salary in Dubai for a domestic worker ranges from AED 2,000 to AED 4,000 per month in 2026. This is the salary for a private household cook hired under a domestic worker visa, not a restaurant chef.

Filipino and Indian cooks command the highest salaries because of multi-cuisine capability. Indian cooks are especially sought after in vegetarian households and for traditional subcontinental cooking. A cook who can handle Arabic, Indian, and Western cuisine will earn at the top of the range.

Cook Type	Salary (AED/month)
General household cook	2,000 to 2,500
Multi-cuisine cook	2,500 to 3,500
Specialized private chef	3,500 to 4,000+
Cook + housekeeper (combined)	1,800 to 2,800

When a maid's duties include daily cooking beyond basic meals, the monthly maid salary should reflect this. A housemaid who also cooks two full meals daily should earn closer to AED 1,800 to AED 2,500, not the baseline AED 1,200 to AED 1,600.

Live-In Maid Salary vs Live-Out Maid Salary in Dubai

The live-in maid salary in Dubai is AED 1,200 to AED 2,200 per month. The live-out maid salary in Dubai is AED 1,500 to AED 3,000. The difference (AED 300 to AED 800) exists because a live-out maid pays for her own accommodation, food, and transport.

Factor	Live-In	Live-Out
Housemaid salary	1,200 to 2,200	1,500 to 3,000
Nanny salary	1,600 to 3,000	2,000 to 3,500
Employer provides room	Yes	No
Employer provides meals	Yes (required by law)	No
Transport cost	None	AED 200 to 500/month (often employer-paid)

Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers requires the employer to provide "appropriate accommodation, food and clothing" for live-in workers. For live-out arrangements, the higher salary compensates for this. The MOHRE contract should state the arrangement explicitly.

Abu Dhabi Maid Salary vs Dubai: Is There a Difference?

The Abu Dhabi maid salary is nearly identical to Dubai for the same nationality and role. Both emirates sit at the top of the UAE pay scale. The real salary gap is between Dubai/Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah), where maid salary runs 10% to 20% lower.

Emirate	Housemaid Salary Range (AED/month)	Difference vs Dubai
Dubai	1,200 to 2,200	Baseline
Abu Dhabi	1,200 to 2,200	Comparable; Tadbeer fees AED 500 to 1,000 higher
Sharjah / Ajman	1,000 to 1,800	10% to 20% lower
Northern emirates	1,000 to 1,600	15% to 20% lower

The cost difference between Dubai and Abu Dhabi shows up in Tadbeer service fees and insurance requirements, not in the maid's actual salary. If you are searching for a maid in Abu Dhabi, expect the same salary range as Dubai but slightly higher administrative costs.

Am I Paying My Maid a Fair Salary?

This is the question behind most "maid salary dubai" searches. Here is a fair pay benchmark by nationality, comparing the embassy floor, the market median, and a competitive salary that retains experienced workers:

Nationality	Embassy Floor	Market Median	Competitive (retains talent)
Filipino	AED 1,835	AED 2,000	AED 2,200 to 2,500
Indian	AED 1,200	AED 1,500	AED 1,800 to 2,200
Indonesian	AED 1,400	AED 1,600	AED 1,800 to 2,000
Sri Lankan	AED 1,200	AED 1,400	AED 1,600 to 1,800
Ethiopian	No floor	AED 1,300	AED 1,500 to 1,800
Nepali	AED 1,000	AED 1,300	AED 1,500 to 1,700

How to read this table: The embassy floor is the legal minimum. The market median is what most employers pay. The competitive column is what to pay if you want your maid to stay. Expat forum data consistently shows that paying AED 500 to AED 1,000 above the median significantly reduces turnover and improves work quality.

Underpayment is still common. Forum reports on ExpatWoman show some domestic workers still receiving AED 700 to AED 900 per month, well below even the lowest embassy floors. This is a contract violation under UAE domestic worker laws and exposes the employer to MOHRE complaints and fines starting at AED 5,000.

What Affects the Monthly Maid Salary in Dubai?

Beyond nationality, four factors shift what to pay your maid in Dubai:

1. Experience. A maid with 5+ years of UAE household experience earns 30% to 50% more than a first-time placement. The premium is justified: experienced workers need less training, understand UAE household standards, and handle complex schedules independently.

2. Language. English-speaking and Arabic-speaking workers earn noticeably more. For Filipino and Kenyan workers, English is assumed. For Indian, Sri Lankan, and Ethiopian workers, English proficiency adds AED 200 to AED 500 to the monthly salary.

3. Combined duties. A housemaid who also cooks, does childcare, or handles elderly care should earn a blended salary reflecting both roles. The most common mistake is paying housemaid-level salary for nanny-level work.

4. Location. Dubai and Abu Dhabi salaries are 10% to 20% higher than Sharjah and the northern emirates. Within Dubai, workers in Marina, JBR, and Downtown may expect AED 200 to AED 400 more in transport allowance because they commute from more affordable areas.

How Do You Hire a Maid at the Right Salary Through ChooseMaid?

ChooseMaid is a direct-hire platform, not an agency. Every maid profile on the platform lists her expected salary, nationality, experience, skills, and preferred arrangement (live-in or live-out). You contact her directly, discuss terms, and agree on a monthly maid salary without a middleman inflating the figure.

How it works:

Browse maid profiles filtered by nationality, salary expectation, experience, and location. Each profile shows the worker's own salary ask.
Contact the maid directly via WhatsApp or phone. Negotiate salary based on the benchmarks in this guide.
Agree on terms and sign a MOHRE-standard employment contract. The salary in the contract must meet or exceed the embassy minimum for that nationality.
Handle visa sponsorship through MOHRE directly or via a Tadbeer center. Visa costs are separate from salary. See Tadbeer Maid Visa Cost in Dubai for the breakdown.

The platform subscription is AED 195. One-time fee. Not salary, not commission, not recurring. See what happens after you pay.

Agencies charge AED 3,500 to AED 4,500/month for the same maid who would accept AED 1,500 to AED 2,500 in direct salary. The difference is the agency's margin. Hiring without an agency through ChooseMaid saves AED 1,500 to AED 3,000 per month.