![Two nannies accompany a family at Dubai Mall. It is estimated that at least tens of thousands of people in the UAE are employed as domestic workers. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RAH62Q43TDR6OVYSVVTZ4O4TXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c8bf6688717336e8b913a305e7b52c71661f99333e42812a3f639d5573c8b0f7&width=400&height=225)
![In March 2021, the country's labour ministry said it would close all of the privately-run recruitment agencies that hire and supply domestic workers to tackle abuse in the industry. Instead, government-run centres will handle all applications and hiring for families. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GYAUUAIJ2LE24CTWLHMCL5BSNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=04d0e0b135a688380479221a6b2f71a9cd606f91c37d265ce603ff36f3d033c5&width=400&height=225)
![Officials said there would be an exception for agencies based in the country's economic freezones, which have their own rules and regulators. It was not clear if there are many maid agencies based there, nor whether those facing closure could move to a freezone. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RHA5FDMFR3EANSB2J2LKN72KLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a215ae4f284942ff525b61999f55dafab568c5071626f2c2733c8817b3b2fe17&width=400&height=225)
![A nanny looks after a girl as she plays in a park in Dubai. In the Gulf, the low cost of labour and the financial need for both parents to work full-time mean live-in maids and nannies are very common. Jaime Puebla / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YX5AAA43QHRIENFRGURIOFFORU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfb60a841c6185ecc1fec66ec535d230b303a4e5554eb506be522e2cefeb34df&width=400&height=225)
![Nannies take a first aid in Dubai that focused on children and babies. Jeff Topping / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3RHHXLO7EMUXLMLX575QRQBIQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c680792b2f765a358d443d843ffb675ccdc388b87066821125c4d469bc9fab9f&width=400&height=225)
![Two nannies accompany a family at Dubai Mall. It is estimated that at least tens of thousands of people in the UAE are employed as domestic workers. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RAH62Q43TDR6OVYSVVTZ4O4TXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c8bf6688717336e8b913a305e7b52c71661f99333e42812a3f639d5573c8b0f7&width=400&height=225)
![In March 2021, the country's labour ministry said it would close all of the privately-run recruitment agencies that hire and supply domestic workers to tackle abuse in the industry. Instead, government-run centres will handle all applications and hiring for families. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GYAUUAIJ2LE24CTWLHMCL5BSNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=04d0e0b135a688380479221a6b2f71a9cd606f91c37d265ce603ff36f3d033c5&width=400&height=225)
![Officials said there would be an exception for agencies based in the country's economic freezones, which have their own rules and regulators. It was not clear if there are many maid agencies based there, nor whether those facing closure could move to a freezone. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RHA5FDMFR3EANSB2J2LKN72KLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a215ae4f284942ff525b61999f55dafab568c5071626f2c2733c8817b3b2fe17&width=400&height=225)
![A nanny looks after a girl as she plays in a park in Dubai. In the Gulf, the low cost of labour and the financial need for both parents to work full-time mean live-in maids and nannies are very common. Jaime Puebla / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YX5AAA43QHRIENFRGURIOFFORU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfb60a841c6185ecc1fec66ec535d230b303a4e5554eb506be522e2cefeb34df&width=400&height=225)
![Nannies take a first aid in Dubai that focused on children and babies. Jeff Topping / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3RHHXLO7EMUXLMLX575QRQBIQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c680792b2f765a358d443d843ffb675ccdc388b87066821125c4d469bc9fab9f&width=400&height=225)
![Two nannies accompany a family at Dubai Mall. It is estimated that at least tens of thousands of people in the UAE are employed as domestic workers. Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RAH62Q43TDR6OVYSVVTZ4O4TXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=c8bf6688717336e8b913a305e7b52c71661f99333e42812a3f639d5573c8b0f7&width=400&height=225)
UAE decision to close private maid-hiring agencies will stamp out rogue companies
Domestic workers will have to be employed via government-run Tadbeer centres but residents seek clarity on hiring options
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
January 21, 2021
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