Read the agreement for each relationship: the agency's recruitment or service agreement, the worker's employment contract and, for temporary employment, the agency–beneficiary agreement. A monthly invoice does not replace these contracts, and their durations should not be treated as interchangeable.
UAE law sets the household employer–worker contract at two years, renewable for the same period. If both parties continue after expiry, it is implicitly extended on the same conditions, including duration. This employment-contract rule does not establish the validity of every permit or the length of a household's monthly service subscription. Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 7
Separate the documents and their purpose
| Document | Main question it answers |
|---|---|
| Recruitment agreement | What the agency will recruit, provide and charge, and the agreed recruitment period |
| Employment contract | Who employs the worker and the work, wage, rest, leave and termination terms |
| Temporary beneficiary agreement | How the licensed agency supplies the worker's services to the beneficiary |
| Permit and residence records | Which official authorisations are valid and when they expire |
| Commercial service schedule | The booked service period and any agreed additional commercial terms |
The law requires the employment contract to include the parties, place and dates, work, duration, wage and payment method, leave, probation, rest and termination conditions. The agency recruitment agreement separately records required characteristics, services and financial obligations. Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 7 Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 6 Cabinet Resolution 106/2022, Article 9
Make sure the language and rights match
Contract terms must be in Arabic and a language the worker understands, with matching meaning. The Arabic text prevails in a difference. More favourable contractual rights may be agreed, but terms reducing statutory rights are invalid. Do not use a private service clause to remove a worker's wage or rest entitlement. Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 28
Check that the worker receives the required contract copy and can understand the practical arrangements. Do not rely on an English summary that omits an important Arabic condition. Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 7 Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 28
Prepare renewal as a separate process
MOHRE's contract-renewal service requires the worker to be inside the UAE and identifies valid employer and worker documents, medical fitness, health insurance, the signed contract and applicable identity-renewal evidence. Confirm the current document requirements for the actual route. MOHRE: domestic-worker contract renewal
Current Ministerial Resolution 504 of 2026 requires valid health insurance for covered work-permit issuance and renewal. Coverage continuity and the prohibition on charging the worker the subscription or renewal premium must be preserved. Ministerial Resolution 504/2026, Articles 1–3, PDF pp. 1–2
MOHRE gives a one-working-day completion target for this renewal service. Related residence, identity and medical steps have their own requirements; the target does not establish an INAYA renewal commitment. MOHRE: domestic-worker contract renewal
If the arrangement ends instead
The parties may agree early termination under Article 7, while the law also sets termination grounds and consequences. Where Article 19's final-dues obligation applies, payment is due within ten days from the contract ending. Return-travel responsibility depends on the reason and applicable arrangement; it is not always the same for every cancellation. Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 7 Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 19 Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 20
Changing employer must follow Ministry procedures. Do not solve an expiring contract by informally lending the worker to another household. Federal Decree-Law 9/2022, Article 21
Before expiry, review the work scope, wage, document dates, insurance, renewal intention and any lawful service changes. Contact INAYA to confirm the support available for your case, applicable requirements and fees. Do not infer an application-submission service or renewal benefit from a package name.