The UAE closed down 77 unauthorised social media accounts for carrying out domestic worker recruitment services illegally in the first six months of the year.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation joined forces with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority to take action against the rogue accounts, which were found to be operating without a licence from authorities.
On Wednesday, the ministry urged employers − as well as Emirati and expat families − to only use licensed and approved recruitment agencies when looking to hire domestic staff.
It warned customers who hire domestic staff from unregistered bodies were at risk of losing legal protection that is guaranteed when dealing with authorised groups.
The ministry urged the public to contact its call centre on 6005 90000 to verify the authenticity of any organisations promoting domestic workers through social media.
A list of licensed agencies across the UAE − including their names and locations − is available on its website.
In October 2023, nearly 50 recruitment agencies hiring domestic workers for the UAE market were closed down after failing to obtain necessary licences.
In 2022, A domestic labour law boosting workers' rights and clamping down on rogue recruiters and employers came into effect.
The updated legislation is the latest step by the government to strengthen regulations safeguarding thousands of employees − including maids, nannies, cooks and gardeners − across the Emirates.
The new directives expand the number of offences, which are punishable by fines and/or prison terms, for breaches of working conditions and rules from four to eight.
Punishments include fines of between Dh20,000 ($5,450) and Dh100,000 and up to six months in prison for anyone who provides false information or fake documents to employ domestic helpers.
People who hire unlicensed workers, recruit staff but do not provide a job, or use permits for domestic workers for purposes other than those for which they were issued can be fined between Dh50,000 and Dh200,000.
The same penalty applies to those who close recruitment agency operations without settling wages owed to domestic workers.
Those who employ a worker under the age of 18 years or assist a worker to abscond or shelter absconding workers with an aim to exploit them in illegal activities face fines of up to Dh200,000.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
