Musaned 2026, Saudi Domestic Worker Recruitment Guide

The Musaned platform transformed domestic worker recruitment in Saudi Arabia from a paper track through offices to a unified electronic system under Ministry of Human Resources supervision. This guide covers the conditions, fees, and rights as applied in 2026.

What Musaned Is and How It Works

Musaned is a platform under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, managing the full lifecycle of a domestic worker: from recruitment to contract to renewal to transfer to exit.

Musaned differs from Qiwa (which manages private-sector labor contracts). Musaned is dedicated exclusively to domestic labor in the types listed in the Saudi Domestic Labor Regulation.

Covered Domestic Worker Types

The Domestic Labor Regulation covers nine official specializations:

| Occupation | Description | |---|---| | Housemaid | General cleaning and household tasks | | Cook | Preparing family meals | | Nanny | Care of children under 6 | | Private driver | Driving the family car | | Patient companion | Care of the sick or elderly | | Gardener | Garden care | | House guard | Night-time home guarding | | Private farmer | Cultivating private land (rare) | | Private livestock herder | Raising private livestock |

Most requested: housemaid, private driver, nanny.

Employer (Sponsor) Conditions

The system requires several conditions in the sponsor:

• Age: 21 or older
• Fixed monthly income: at least 7,000 SAR (proven via bank statement or employer letter)
• Adequate housing: requirements vary by number of workers and housing type
• Nationality: Saudis without additional condition; residents must have at least two years of iqama history
• Record: no active violations recorded against a previous recruitment

Maximum domestic workers count: depends on family composition (3 for a single person, 4 for a small family, 6 for a large family), and may reach 8 for special cases (patients, people with disabilities).

Fees and Costs

Total cost breaks down into several items:

| Item | Approximate value | |---|---| | Musaned platform fee | 100 SAR | | Recruitment office fee | 3,000–8,000 SAR (by nationality) | | Medical exam in source country | Borne by source-country office | | Airfare | 1,000–3,000 SAR by destination | | Health insurance | Legally required, 700–1,200 SAR annually | | Visa fees | 200 SAR | | Approximate total | 12,000–25,000 SAR |

Most are paid via Musaned through SADAD, except the recruitment office fee paid directly to the office.

Musaned Recruitment Steps

Full electronic procedure:

1. Register on Musaned with a Nafath account
2. Eligibility check: the system automatically verifies your income, age, and record
3. Choose occupation and nationality requested
4. Choose recruitment office: from an approved list on Musaned
5. Complete the contract: standard bilateral contract (electronically signed)
6. Pay fees via SADAD
7. Office follow-up: file passes medical exam, visa, then travel
8. Arrival: typically 45–90 days from application date

Rights and Obligations — Standard Contract

The Saudi Domestic Labor Regulation mandates a standard contract between the sponsor and the worker, including:

Worker's Rights

• Monthly wage paid on time via bank transfer (Domestic Wage Protection System)
• Weekly rest day at least once
• Working hours not exceeding 10 hours per day with breaks
• Annual leave 30 days after two continuous years
• Return ticket at contract end
• Full healthcare at the sponsor's expense
• Work-accident insurance mandatory

Worker's Obligations

• Perform agreed work honestly and diligently
• Preserve the sponsor's property
• Adhere to appropriate conduct
• Not work for anyone other than the sponsor without official approval

Contract Termination Cases

• Natural end of contract term (1, 2, or 3 years)
• Mutual consent before end
• Grave breach by either party (per a statutory list)
• Worker transfer to another employer with current employer's approval

Domestic Wage Protection System

Since 2021, Saudi Arabia has extended the Wage Protection System to domestic workers:

• Wage transferred monthly to a bank account in the worker's name
• Regularity monitored via Musaned
• 3 consecutive months of delay opens transfer without sponsor consent
• Bank account opened for every worker via an approved bank before contract start

This protects the worker from illegal wage withholding and protects the sponsor from false non-payment claims.

Additional Questions

Can I recruit a driver without a car? Yes. The regulation does not require vehicle ownership, but the sponsor remains bound by wage and rights. Owning a car logically justifies recruiting a driver.

How do I recruit a specific worker I know personally? Via "Named Recruitment", enter the worker's data (name, nationality, passport number) in Musaned, coordinated with a recruitment office in their country. Fees are similar to regular recruitment.

What if a worker is dismissed for a legitimate reason after arrival? If you prove a statutory reason (theft, damage, inability to work), the recruitment office is obligated to refund part of the fees or replace the worker within a warranty period (usually 90 days from arrival) per the office contract.

Can a violating worker be deported automatically? No. Even workers who commit violations are not deported automatically, but via a formal complaint in Musaned, then transferred to the competent authorities to review and decide.

Official Sources

• Musaned platform, musaned.com.sa
• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, hrsd.gov.sa
• Saudi Domestic Labor Regulation, Laws Portal

Read also: Kafala Transfer, Conditions and Solutions · Employee Rights Under Saudi Labor Law · Iqama Renewal