Maid Visa Abu Dhabi (2026): Requirements, Cost and Process for Sponsoring a Housemaid — Own Sponsorship vs Tadbeer, ICP and MOHRE Steps, and How It Differs from Dubai

The maid visa Abu Dhabi residents apply for follows the same national rules as Dubai: you need a household income above AED 25,000 a month to sponsor a housemaid yourself, and the visa costs about AED 8,000 for one year. The difference is who issues what — the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) issues the domestic worker's work permit, and ICP issues the residence visa and Emirates ID, where Dubai uses GDRFA. Families who do not meet the income rule can hire through a Tadbeer centre for about AED 7,000–9,000 for a 2-year visa. This guide covers who can sponsor, the documents, the cost, the steps, the differences from Dubai, and renewal and cancellation.

👪 Who can sponsor a maid in Abu Dhabi?

Any UAE resident with a valid residence visa and a household income above AED 25,000 a month can sponsor a domestic worker on his or her own file. The husband's and wife's salaries can be counted together. The rule is the same in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the other emirates. Emirati families sponsor domestic workers through the same MOHRE system.

🏛️ Which authority handles the maid visa in Abu Dhabi?

MOHRE and ICP. Domestic workers are under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), which issues the work permit and the standard employment contract. The residence visa and the Emirates ID are issued by ICP (the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security), which covers Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates. In Dubai the residence is issued by GDRFA, but the Emirates ID still comes from ICP.

What is the Work Bundle and does it cover Abu Dhabi?

Since 13 October 2025, MOHRE runs domestic worker services on the Work Bundle platform (Work in UAE) with ICP, Emirates Health Services and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi. One application covers the permit, the electronic contract, the medical test, the residence and the Emirates ID — issuing, renewing and cancelling. You can still apply through MOHRE's app, website or a licensed service centre.

📂 What documents do I need for a maid visa in Abu Dhabi?

Own sponsorship needs more paperwork than Tadbeer. A typical Abu Dhabi file:

Do I need a bigger flat to sponsor a maid?

The worker must have suitable accommodation, and sponsors are often asked for a home with 2 bedrooms or more. A studio or shared flat can lead to a rejection. If you are unsure, tell us your tenancy details before you apply.

💰 How much does a maid visa cost in Abu Dhabi?

About AED 8,000 for a 1-year visa on your own sponsorship, or AED 7,000–9,000 for a 2-year visa through a Tadbeer centre, plus AED 100–150 a month for the Tadbeer salary service. Golden Visa holders pay about AED 15,000 for a 2-year maid visa. MOHRE lists its permit fees separately for Dubai and for the other emirates, so the government amount in Abu Dhabi can differ slightly; the figure shown in the system when you apply is final.

Approximate totals as of 15 October 2026. Salary, flights and any recruitment agency fee are extra. Full breakdown in our maid visa cost guide.

🪜 How do I sponsor a maid in Abu Dhabi? Step by step

How long does a maid visa take in Abu Dhabi?

MOHRE says the Work Bundle can complete a residence file in about 5 working days once the documents are complete, with two visits at most. The medical test and Emirates ID appointment are usually the slowest part. A no-relationship certificate from an embassy can add a week or more.

⚖️ What is different about a maid visa in Abu Dhabi compared with Dubai?

The rules are national, so most things are the same. These are the practical differences:

🔄 What changed for maid visas? Old rules vs 2026

🏢 How does Tadbeer work in Abu Dhabi?

Tadbeer centres are licensed by MOHRE and have branches in Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and the other emirates. On the sponsored-by-the-centre model, the maid's visa is issued under the Tadbeer company, not under you. You pay AED 7,000–9,000 for a 2-year visa, depending on the centre, and every month you send the salary to the centre, which pays the maid and charges AED 100–150. Read more in our Tadbeer maid visa guide.

Why do we recommend Tadbeer?

🔁 How do I renew or cancel a maid visa in Abu Dhabi?

When and how is the visa renewed?

On your own sponsorship the visa is renewed every year (every 2 years on a Golden Visa). Renewal repeats the health insurance, medical test, MOHRE contract and ICP residence with Emirates ID — no new entry permit. The maid must be in the UAE and her passport valid for at least 3 months. Start a few weeks before the expiry date. Full details in our maid visa renewal guide.

What happens if the maid visa expires?

Once the visa and its grace period have run out, the overstay fine is AED 50 a day. The Emirates ID late fine is AED 20 a day after 30 days, up to AED 1,000. Fines are paid with the renewal or before cancellation.

How do I cancel a maid visa in Abu Dhabi?

The sponsor cancels the MOHRE work permit and the ICP residence, after settling the salary and the end-of-service benefit. With Tadbeer, the centre cancels it. See our visa cancellation guide; if a worker leaves without notice, read absconding domestic worker.

📜 What rules must a maid employer follow in Abu Dhabi?

The federal domestic workers law (Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022) applies in Abu Dhabi as everywhere in the UAE:

🤝 Maid visa services by FamilyVisa.ae

📝 Quick recap

• Own sponsorship in Abu Dhabi: household income above AED 25,000, about AED 8,000 for a 1-year visa; Golden Visa holders about AED 15,000 for 2 years.
• Tadbeer: 2-year visa under the centre, AED 7,000–9,000 plus AED 100–150 a month — our recommendation.
• MOHRE issues the work permit, ICP the residence and Emirates ID — one Work Bundle file since October 2025.
• Differences from Dubai: ICP instead of GDRFA, Tawtheeq instead of Ejari, Abu Dhabi medical centres.
• Renew every year before expiry; after the grace period the fine is AED 50 a day.

🔗 Related guides

• Maid visa service
• Maid visa cost in Dubai: own sponsorship vs Tadbeer
• Maid visa renewal: documents, cost and steps
• Tadbeer maid visa
• Visa medical test in Abu Dhabi
• Family visa in Abu Dhabi
• Nanny visa in Dubai

❓ Frequently asked questions

1. Is the maid visa process in Abu Dhabi different from Dubai?

Mostly no. The income rule, the MOHRE work permit, the health insurance and the medical test apply in both. The main difference is the residence authority: ICP issues the residence in Abu Dhabi, GDRFA in Dubai. Abu Dhabi also uses its own medical centres and Tawtheeq tenancy contracts.

2. Which authority handles the maid visa in Abu Dhabi?

Two authorities. MOHRE issues the domestic worker's work permit and contract, and ICP issues the residence visa and the Emirates ID. Since October 2025 both are handled in one application on the Work Bundle platform.

3. What salary do I need to sponsor a maid in Abu Dhabi?

A household income above AED 25,000 a month. The husband's and wife's salaries can be added together. Families below this level can still hire a maid through a Tadbeer centre.

4. How much does a maid visa cost in Abu Dhabi?

About AED 8,000 for a 1-year visa on your own sponsorship. Through a Tadbeer centre it is about AED 7,000–9,000 for a 2-year visa, plus AED 100–150 a month. The amount shown in the system when you apply is final.

5. How long is a maid visa valid in Abu Dhabi?

One year on your own sponsorship, renewed every year. Golden Visa holders get a 2-year maid visa. A Tadbeer visa is for 2 years.

6. Can a Golden Visa holder sponsor a maid in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Golden Visa holders sponsor a domestic worker for 2 years at a time, at about AED 15,000 for the 2-year visa.

7. Is there Tadbeer in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Tadbeer centres are licensed by MOHRE and operate in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the other emirates. The maid can be sponsored by the centre, so you do not need the AED 25,000 income.

8. Do I need a tenancy contract to sponsor a maid in Abu Dhabi?

Yes, usually. A registered Tawtheeq tenancy contract or a title deed shows that the worker has suitable accommodation. A larger home, often 2 bedrooms or more, is expected.

9. Where does my maid do the medical test in Abu Dhabi?

At a visa screening centre licensed by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, such as a SEHA centre. The result is linked to the application automatically.

10. Is health insurance mandatory for a maid in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Every domestic worker must have health insurance paid by the employer. Abu Dhabi has required it for years, and it is mandatory in every emirate since 1 January 2025.

11. Can I hire a maid of my own nationality in Abu Dhabi?

Yes, if you are not related. Your embassy issues a no-relationship certificate, which is added to the file.

12. Can a single person sponsor a maid in Abu Dhabi?

Own sponsorship is mainly for families, and the authority decides other cases. A single resident usually finds it simpler to hire through a Tadbeer centre.

13. Can I bring a maid on a visit visa and change it in Abu Dhabi?

A maid who is already in the UAE can usually change status inside the country instead of leaving. She must not work until the work permit and residence are issued.

14. Can I transfer my maid's visa from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?

If you move emirate, the visa stays valid until it expires. At renewal, the residence is renewed through ICP for your new Abu Dhabi address. A new sponsor needs a cancellation and a new visa.

15. How do I renew a maid visa in Abu Dhabi?

Renew the health insurance, do a new medical test, renew the contract and permit with MOHRE and renew the residence and Emirates ID with ICP, all on one Work Bundle file. Start before the visa expires.

16. How do I cancel a maid visa in Abu Dhabi?

The sponsor cancels the work permit with MOHRE and the residence with ICP. Settle the end-of-service benefit and any unpaid salary first. Through Tadbeer, the centre cancels it.

17. What is the fine for an expired maid visa in Abu Dhabi?

AED 50 a day once the visa and its grace period have run out, the same as in Dubai. The Emirates ID late fine is AED 20 a day after 30 days, up to AED 1,000.

18. How long does a maid visa take in Abu Dhabi?

MOHRE says the Work Bundle can finish a residence file in about 5 working days once the documents are complete. The medical test and Emirates ID appointments can add a few days.

19. What rules must I follow as a maid employer in Abu Dhabi?

The federal domestic workers law: salary within 10 days through WPS, one paid day off a week, 30 days' paid leave a year, a return ticket every 2 years and health insurance.

20. What if my maid leaves without notice in Abu Dhabi?

Report the absence to MOHRE within 5 days. If the maid came through a Tadbeer centre, inform the centre first.

21. Is Tadbeer cheaper than own sponsorship in Abu Dhabi?

Usually yes. About AED 8,000 buys one year on your own sponsorship, while AED 7,000–9,000 buys two years through Tadbeer, even after the monthly fee.

Last reviewed 15 October 2026. Rules and fees are set by MOHRE and ICP and can change; amounts are approximate as of 15 October 2026, Tadbeer prices are set by each centre, and the amount shown in the MOHRE or ICP system when you apply is the final reference. Every application is decided by the immigration authorities. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Main official sources: MOHRE — domestic worker services on the Work Bundle, MOHRE — renewal of a domestic worker's contract, u.ae — renewing your residence visa. FamilyVisa.ae is operated by 800 DOCS LLC SOC, a DET-licensed private visa services company in Dubai — not a government office.