In the midst of a search for a nanny in Dubai? Use these tips to find the right person for your family
Rui Gomes Pinto is the founder and CEO of Yaya Middle East, a UAE-based app connecting families with verified nannies and domestic helpers. He’s shared with us at What’s On what he’s learned from helping thousands of families find the right person for their home.
Rui Gomes Pinto
How do I find a nanny in Dubai?
“Most families start in places like Facebook groups or word of mouth when searching for a nanny in Dubai. While these can work, the limitations are real: profiles are often unverified, there’s no structured way to compare candidates, and managing conversations across multiple channels usually means sharing personal contact details before you’ve established any trust. We hear this constantly from families who spent weeks reaching out, only to find that half the candidates had no relevant experience or had already been placed elsewhere.
What we’d recommend instead is using a dedicated platform that gives you direct access to active, verified candidates with full profiles, work history and references in one place. That’s exactly the kind of problem platforms like Yaya Middle East were built to solve. Profiles are verified and actively maintained, so when you’re browsing, you’re looking at candidates who are genuinely available and meet a consistent standard.
Before you start, be clear on what you need: full-time or part-time, live-in or live-out. Knowing this upfront lets you filter candidates quickly and avoid wasting time on profiles that aren’t the right fit.”
Should I use an agency or hire a nanny in Dubai directly?
“Agencies can make sense if you need short-term cover or prefer a fully managed process. But most agencies in Dubai operate on a markup model: you pay a fixed monthly rate, and the helper receives a portion of that. Part of what you pay each month goes to the intermediary rather than the person actually working in your home.
Direct hiring removes that margin entirely. Many of the strongest candidates move from family to family directly — they don’t need an agency to find work, and they know their value. You also get access to a much wider pool when you’re not limited to whoever a particular agency has on their books.
The trade-off is that the due diligence sits with you. Platforms like Yaya Middle East offer an alternative — you hire directly, but you’re not starting from scratch. The verification, the profiles, the references are all there. You just skip the middleman and the markup.”
What should I look for in a nanny’s profile?
“I’d always start with the video introduction. A written profile can only go so far — a short video gives you a much clearer sense of personality, communication style and confidence before you’ve even had a conversation.
References matter, but only if you use them. Always ask to speak to previous employers and ask specific questions: how did they handle a difficult situation, were they reliable, and how did they communicate when something went wrong? A name and number on a profile means very little if you never make the call.
One thing families often overlook is who the candidate has actually worked for before. Experience with families of a similar background or lifestyle is a strong signal. Cultural fit is genuinely hard to assess in an interview — previous placements tend to give you a far more accurate picture than anything said in a conversation.”
What are the red flags when hiring a nanny?
“The biggest red flag? Inconsistency — between what a profile states, what references report, and what a candidate says in conversation. Any gap is worth taking seriously. Pay attention to how candidates communicate early on too; delayed or unclear responses at the start often continue once they’re in the role. We’ve seen families hire based on a polished profile, only to find that when they called the reference, the number had been disconnected.
Look at the length of previous placements as well. The best nannies tend to stay with families for years. If someone has had five families in two years, it’s worth asking why.”
What do I need to know about visas and legal requirements?
“UAE law requires domestic workers to be employed under a valid work permit. Hiring someone on their own visa is illegal under UAE law and can expose both parties to significant fines — with no legal protection for either side if something goes wrong. It might seem like a convenient arrangement, but it really isn’t.
When it comes to sorting the visa, you have two options. Private sponsorship gives you full control but is the more costly route for expat families and comes with minimum requirements around salary and accommodation. Agency sponsorship is the easier route for most expat families — a licensed centre handles everything and you get a two-year visa. Less paperwork, lower cost, and you can focus on actually finding the right person.”
Also read: Where to spot dinosaurs in the UAE
How much does a nanny cost in Dubai?
“Live-in nannies in Dubai typically earn between Dhs2,000 and Dhs4,000 per month, depending on experience and responsibilities. For live-out arrangements, families generally add around Dhs1,000 to account for accommodation. Beyond monthly salary, budget for approximately Dhs500 per month for visa costs and around Dhs3,000 per year for the annual flight home.”
What’s the best way to interview a nanny?
“Keep it practical. Walk through real scenarios: how would they handle the morning routine — getting kids ready, breakfast, the chaos of out-the-door time — or an emergency when you’re not reachable? Specific situations reveal far more than general questions, and you get a much better sense of how someone actually thinks on their feet.
Be transparent about your household from the start and set clear expectations: working hours, days off, holidays, and what the role actually involves day to day, including whether babysitting is part of it. The most common complaint we hear from helpers — and it comes up more than you’d think — is that nobody told them what the job actually involved until they were already in it. The clearer both sides are before anyone commits, the better the relationship tends to be.”
Final advice for families starting their search?
“The families who find the right nanny are almost always the ones who didn’t rush. Be specific about what you need, pay attention to how candidates communicate from the first message, and always do a paid trial before committing — think of it as an extended interview that tells you far more than any conversation will.
Finding the right nanny isn’t just about experience on paper — it’s about finding someone who fits your home, your children and your routine. For families navigating the process for the first time, Yaya Middle East has a Care Guide at yayamiddleeast.com — which can help you get a clearer picture before you start. Getting that right from the start makes everything else easier.”
