How much does house cleaning cost in United Arab Emirates?
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Key takeaways
- Most house cleaning jobs in United Arab Emirates land between AED 60–AED 1,200 — known locally as home cleaning / hourly maid service.
- In the UAE, part-time hourly maids must be engaged through licensed cleaning companies or regulated domestic-worker centres under the Domestic Workers Law — informal hiring of someone on another sponsor's visa is unlawful. Quotes commonly come 'with' or 'without materials', which changes the hourly rate.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
House Cleaning prices by job size in United Arab Emirates
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-hour apartment clean Studio or 1-bed, single visit | AED 60 | AED 85 | AED 120 |
| 4-hour clean Larger apartment or small villa, single visit | AED 120 | AED 160 | AED 220 |
| Villa deep clean Full villa with team, build-up removal | AED 400 | AED 700 | AED 1,200 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per hour | AED 25 | AED 35 | AED 50 |
What affects the price
- Job size and scope — bigger or more complex jobs move you up the ranges above.
- Access and condition — hard-to-reach areas, older properties or neglected maintenance add labour time.
- Materials and quality level — where materials are involved, the grade you choose often matters more than labour.
- Urgency — same-day or out-of-hours work usually carries a premium.
- Where you live — large metros in United Arab Emirates typically run above the national range; smaller towns below it.
How to save
- Get at least three quotes and compare like-for-like scopes, not just totals.
- Be flexible on timing — off-peak slots are often cheaper.
- Bundle related tasks into one visit to spread call-out costs.
- Agree the scope in writing up front to avoid change-order surprises.
How to hire a house cleaning pro in United Arab Emirates
- Book through a licensed cleaning company or app (e.g., Justlife, ServiceMarket) — part-time maids must be supplied by licensed firms or domestic-worker centres
- Never hire someone informally who is on another sponsor's visa — it's unlawful for both parties
- Check whether the hourly rate includes cleaning materials — 'with materials' typically adds AED 5-10/hour
- Confirm the same cleaner can be assigned for recurring bookings if consistency matters to you
- Agree scope per session: standard hourly cleans cover surfaces and floors, not deep-clean or ironing unless booked
- Check building access rules — many towers require cleaner registration with security
Red flags
- Individual offering cleaning while sponsored for a different job or by another household
- Company can't name its trade licence or emirate of registration
- Rates far below market — usually unlicensed and uninsured
- Demands cash with no booking record or receipt
- Bait pricing: cheap first hour, then padded minimum hours and fees
How Handld researches prices
These are researched estimates, not quotes and not our transaction data. We compile ranges from published sources — national statistics, trade bodies and incumbent cost guides — normalise them to AED, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: UAE cleaning app published rates (Justlife, ServiceMarket sampling); Extrapolated from GCC market hourly-maid rate guides.
Frequently asked questions
Do cleaners bring their own supplies and equipment?
It varies and you must confirm before booking. Most companies bring everything; many independent and platform-booked cleaners expect you to provide products, a vacuum and a mop — especially in Asia and the Middle East. If the cleaner brings supplies, tell them about any surface restrictions (stone worktops, hardwood) and preferences like fragrance-free or eco products.
Should I hire an independent cleaner or a cleaning company?
Independents are usually 20-40% cheaper and you get the same person every time, but you carry more risk: no cover if they're sick, and often no insurance. Companies cost more but handle vetting, insurance, replacements and payment admin. If you choose an independent, ask directly about liability insurance and references — many excellent independents carry both.
How long does a standard house clean take?
A 1-2 bedroom apartment usually takes 2-3 hours for one cleaner; a 3-bedroom home takes 3-4 hours. Deep cleans run 4-8 hours or use a two-person team. First visits always take longer than maintenance visits because the cleaner is working through accumulated grime and learning the layout.
What's the difference between a standard clean and a deep clean?
A standard clean covers surfaces you touch weekly: vacuuming, mopping, dusting, bathrooms, kitchen wipe-down and bins. A deep clean adds the build-up work — inside the oven and fridge, skirting boards, under furniture, limescale removal, grout scrubbing and window sills. Deep cleans typically cost 50-100% more and take roughly twice as long. Book a deep clean first if the home hasn't been professionally cleaned in 6+ months, then maintain with standard cleans.
Why do quotes for the same home vary so much?
Three reasons: insurance and legitimate employment cost real money (the cheapest quotes usually skip both), companies price in supervision and cover for sick days, and scope assumptions differ — one quote's 'clean' may exclude half of what another includes. Compare on a written task list, insurance status and the same visit frequency, not on the headline number.
What questions should I ask before hiring?
Ask: Are you insured, and for how much? Who exactly will clean my home — same person each visit? What's on your standard task list, and what's excluded? Do you bring supplies? What's your policy on damage, rescheduling and cancellation? How do you handle keys? Providers who answer these crisply are almost always the better operators.
What does an hourly maid cost in the UAE?
Typically AED 25-50 per hour through licensed companies and apps, with AED 30-40 the common band in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Materials add roughly AED 5-10/hour. A standard 2-hour apartment clean lands around AED 60-120; villas are usually quoted as multi-hour packages.
Is part-time cleaning legal in the UAE?
Yes — through licensed channels. The Domestic Workers Law allows part-time work via licensed cleaning companies and domestic-worker centres, which handle visas and insurance. What's not legal is informally hiring someone sponsored elsewhere; enforcement targets both the worker and the household.
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