The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) confirmed on 16 September that, in cooperation with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, it has closed almost 200 social-media accounts that were promoting unlicensed recruitment of domestic workers. The clamp-down took place during the first half of 2026 and forms part of a broader digital-monitoring initiative that uses artificial intelligence to flag suspicious adverts. Under UAE law, only agencies licensed by MoHRE may recruit or place domestic workers. Unregulated brokers often bypass mandatory health-screening and contract protections, exposing both workers and employers to legal and financial risk. MoHRE says families risk paying inflated fees or encountering fraud if they transact via unlicensed channels. The ministry’s statement encourages employers to verify recruitment offices via its official website and to report dubious adverts to the call-centre on 600 590 000. It also highlights ongoing efforts to publish lists of accredited agencies and to tighten coordination with social-media platforms on prompt content takedowns. From a global-mobility perspective, the crackdown serves as a reminder that hiring household staff for expatriate assignees must go through approved channels. Non-compliance can jeopardise residence-visa renewals and expose companies to reputational damage, especially where packages include sponsored domestic help. MoHRE says it will continue upgrading its e-monitoring tools, suggesting that digital compliance will become even more central to the UAE’s labour-migration regime.
Source: Khaleej Times
