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A private or family driver in Dubai is sponsored as a domestic worker, through MOHRE, with you as the sponsor. "Personal or family driver" is one of 19 domestic jobs on u.ae. Expat sponsors must show family income of at least AED 25,000 a month. ICP lists an AED 5,000 guarantee. The work permit takes 2 working days and lasts 1 year.
That is where the official detail stops. The domestic worker pages treat a driver like every other household worker. Below we say plainly what is written down and what is not.
What the official pages say about drivers, and what they do not
| Question | Official answer |
|---|---|
| Is a driver a domestic worker? | Yes, personal or family driver is on the u.ae list |
| Separate driver visa? | No, the same domestic worker permit |
| Different income rule for drivers? | Not stated, the general AED 25,000 applies |
| Driving licence needed for the permit? | Not mentioned on the pages we read |
| Driving experience or test? | Not mentioned |
| Driver-only fee? | Not stated |
| Age limit | 18 to 60, the same as all domestic workers |
Source: u.ae domestic helpers page and MOHRE's new domestic worker permit page, checked .
The licence gap matters most. MOHRE can issue the permit without asking about it, but your driver still has to be licensed to drive in Dubai. The RTA handles that, and we do not cover its rules here. Ask the RTA directly before you agree a start date.
Household driver or company driver
The domestic worker route is for a driver who works for your home: school runs, errands, taking the family out. If the driver works for your business, even part of the time, that is not domestic work. A company driver is hired on the company's MOHRE work permit and employment visa. See work visa in Dubai and UAE work permit for that route.
Pick one. A domestic worker permit is for work in and for your household, so company driving does not fit under it.
What you need as the sponsor
- Your passport, residence and Emirates ID
- Salary certificate showing family income of at least AED 25,000 a month
- Bank statements for the last 3 months
- Tenancy contract or title deed
- Marriage contract and spouse's visa, if married
What you need from the driver
- Passport copy, valid for at least 3 months
- Colour photo
- No active work permit with another employer
- If he is in the UAE: his tourist visa and the cancellation of any previous visa
- Age between 18 and 60, unless the 3-month exemption for workers already in the UAE applies
Fees for a driver's residence
| Line | Official amount |
|---|---|
| Application to ICP | AED 100 |
| Residence, per year | AED 100 |
| Smart service | AED 100 |
| Status change, driver inside the UAE | AED 500 |
| Deposit fee | AED 20 |
| Domestic worker guarantee | AED 5,000 |
| Medical test, 24 hours, Dubai | AED 270 |
| Emirates ID | AED 100 a year plus AED 100 |
| MOHRE permit | Amount not shown on MOHRE's page |
Source: ICP issuing residency and Emirates ID service pages, checked , and Dubai's medical fitness charges resolution. Insurance comes on top: MOHRE says employers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi must give domestic workers adequate medical insurance. Driving licence costs are separate and set by the RTA.
What Dubai agencies charge
We found no Dubai agency price list for drivers alone. For domestic worker visas in general, Dubai firms and cost guides publish about AED 6,000 to AED 25,000 (published prices and guides of 3 Dubai firms, checked ). Those figures were written for housemaids. Treat them as a rough guide and see maid visa cost for how the range is built.
Steps
- Confirm the job is household driving and your income meets the rule.
- File the MOHRE work permit under the personal or family driver occupation. MOHRE states 2 working days. You can apply online, in the app, at a licensed domestic worker service centre or through Tawseel, using UAE Pass.
- He takes the medical fitness test. Buy his insurance.
- You both sign the MOHRE standard contract. It must state the work, salary, leave, rest and how the contract ends. MOHRE states 1 working day.
- ICP issues the residence in 2 days. Then his Emirates ID.
- Sort his driving licence with the RTA.
If he flies in on his entry permit, finish the residence steps within 60 days of entry.
His hours and rights
A driver's day can be long and broken up. The rest rules still apply: 12 hours of rest a day, 8 of them in a row, and one paid rest day each week. Salary within 10 days of the due date, at least 30 days of leave a year, and a return ticket every 2 years. He keeps his own passport. Agencies may not charge him to get the job.
Common reasons a driver visa is delayed
- Bank statements do not show AED 25,000 a month.
- His permit with a previous employer is still active.
- He is driving for you before the permit is out. That is unlicensed work, and possibly unlicensed driving too.
- The job is really for a company, so the domestic route does not fit.
- No insurance policy in your name.
The permit is yearly for resident sponsors. Renewal follows the same steps as on maid visa renewal.
Looking for a truck driver visa to Canada from Dubai? That is a Canadian work permit, decided by Canada. Start with Canada visas from Dubai.
How it works with us
Send his passport copy and where he is now, on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. A visa adviser first checks the job really is household driving and that your income papers meet the MOHRE rule, then sets out whether he comes in from abroad or changes status in the UAE. You get one total price before you pay. The team files the permit, books the medical, follows the contract and the residence, and tells you when his Emirates ID is ready. We do not handle RTA licensing. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service, and MOHRE and ICP decide the application.
If the application is refused, the authorities keep the government fees. Before you pay anything, the adviser tells you in writing which part of our total, if any, you would get back.
Official sources
- u.ae domestic helpers: driver on the occupation list, contract terms, rest and leave
- MOHRE new work permit for domestic workers: income rule, age, documents, 2 working days
- MOHRE domestic worker contract: contract, insurance duty, 1 working day
- ICP issuing residency: fee lines and the guarantee
MOHRE checked , ICP and u.ae . Confirm fees on the official pages before you pay.
