Returning to work after having a baby in Dubai: The honest guide I wish I’d had

Becoming a mum in Dubai is a whirlwind. One minute you’re figuring out newborn sleep, nipple shields and how on earth to get out of the house with a baby in 45-degree heat… and the next, you’re staring down the calendar counting the days until you have to return to work.

If you’re feeling a tad overwhelmed, you’re definitely not alone. One of the most common Google searches among mums here is “How do I go back to work after maternity leave in Dubai?” or "Should i get a Nanny or Nursery Dubai?". And honestly, it’s a very fair question.

Dubai is amazing in a thousand ways — but when it comes to maternity leave, part-time roles and hybrid working, it can feel like you’re swimming very much against the tide.

Maternity leave in Dubai: The reality

Dubai has many strengths, but length of maternity leave isn’t one of them.

Under UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), women in the private sector are entitled to 60 calendar days of maternity leave:
• 45 days at full pay
• 15 days at half pay

That’s it. Sixty days. For most new mums, that’s barely enough time to recover, establish feeding, regulate sleep, or even emerge from the brain fog. I don't think I knew my own name by that point! And unlike some countries, extended leave, phased returns and protected part-time options aren’t standard here. It creates an enormous pressure point, almost every working mum I speak with says the same thing: “It feels too soon.” Many Dubai Mums' leave the workforce altogether.

The lack of part-time work and hybrid roles

One of the biggest challenges for mothers in Dubai is the lack of flexible working. Part-time positions are scarce across industries — and I’ve always found that such a waste. There’s a whole workforce of highly educated, highly capable women here on spousal visas who would happily fill part-time roles. If I had been able to work 1 or 2 shifts a week part- time in a hospital, I may have considered returning to clinical work. These Mums mostly don’t even need visa sponsorship — just a labour card.
And many are nurses, teachers, early-years educators, physios, midwives, marketers, project managers… the list is endless.

Hybrid working is also limited in many sectors, despite being standard in most parts of the world now. So mums are expected to return to full-time, on-site work when their babies are barely a few weeks old. No wonder “working mum burnout Dubai” is trending.

The question every mum googles: ‘who do I trust with my baby?’

This is where the anxiety and cortisol levels ramp up. Because unlike going back to work in your home country, you don’t have grandparents down the road, familiar childcare systems, or the cultural context of how things “normally” work.

Dubai childcare options are usually:
• Hire a nanny
• Enrol in nursery
• Patchwork together help from cleaners, drivers, babysitters and friends

It’s a lot. And it’s no surprise that “how to find a qualified nanny in Dubai” is one of the most common searches for mums in the UAE. So let’s break down what you need to know — especially the parts people often get wrong.

The legalities of hiring a nanny in Dubai (this bit really matters)

You’ve probably heard the phrase “own-visa nanny” thrown around. Let me be very clear: There is no such thing.

A nanny must be:
• Sponsored by the family she works for, OR
• Employed legally through a licensed agency such as Nannies & More/Tadbeer/MaidsCC

Anything else is illegal. If you’re caught employing a nanny who is not legally sponsored, you can face fines up to AED 50,000, and potentially more for repeated violations. And here’s the part many expats don’t realise: If your profession requires licensing or police clearance (like healthcare, education, or corporate regulated industries), hiring illegally can cause serious issues not only in the UAE but also when you return home. It’s considered a breach of labour laws and can appear on background checks. The legal route protects you — and the nanny.

Education and experience: What you can expect

Another thing I wish someone had explained to me properly: not all nannies arrive with childcare qualifications. Many women are incredibly capable, warm and committed, but their training varies hugely depending on their home country, previous employment and access to education.

Some will have:
• No formal childcare training
• Limited English
• Limited understanding of infant development
• Very little experience with newborns or feeding support
• A strong willingness to learn, but no structured teaching behind them

Others will have excellent experience — but it’s inconsistent across the market. This is why responsible, high-quality training matters. A nanny can only work at the level she’s been taught.

Common myths about nannies in Dubai

Myth 1: “All nannies are trained in baby care.”
Truth: Most aren’t, unless their employer provided training.

Myth 2: “If she’s worked with other families, she must be experienced.”
Truth: Experience doesn’t always equal best practice, especially around sleep safety, feeding, first aid or development.

Myth 3: “Nursery experience = newborn experience.”
Truth: The skillsets are very different.

Myth 4: “She’ll know what I mean when I say follow wake windows / safe sleep / baby-led weaning.”
Truth: Only if she’s been taught — correctly.

Myth 5: “She's got children of her own, so she'll know what to do”
Truth: For most of these ladies, sadly their own children will often have been raised by their mother/aunty/sister while they are here in Dubai working to give their children a better life and opportunities.

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Salaries and working hours in Dubai

(because again… nobody tells you this properly, and "how much do i pay my Nanny in Dubai" is yet another highly googled/ChatGPT question)

Live-in nannies

Salary range: AED 1,800–3,500 per month, depending on experience, nationality and duties (side note- I'm absolutely not agreeing with the lower salary scale, this is just the rates out there)
Pros:
• Consistency for your baby
• Extra household help
• No school runs, no commuting
Cons:
• Privacy takes a hit
• You must provide food, accommodation, and cover all legal costs
• Boundaries can blur if you’re not clear from the start

Working hours: Commonly 10–12 hours/day, six days a week.
But legally, you must provide:
• One day off/week
• Paid leave
• Overtime or compensation for extra hours

Live-out nannies

Salary range: AED 3,000–6,000+ depending on experience, childcare level, and driving ability.
Pros:
• Clearer boundaries
• More privacy
• Often stronger English language skills
Cons:
• You may still need a driver
• More expensive overall
• Commuting delays are a real factor

Working hours: Usually 8–10 hours/day, five or six days a week.

Services that make working mum life in Dubai slightly more manageable

Dubai survives on convenience — and new mums especially so. The top searches in this category include “best time-saving services for mums in Dubai” and “Dubai newborn support services”.

Here are the ones I see families rely on most:

Delivery apps:
• Deliveroo
• Talabat
• Kibsons
• InstaShop

Household support:
• Cleaning companies
• Part-time live-out nannies through licensed agencies
• Laundry services
• Meal prep services (there are excellent baby options now too)

Parenting support:
• Sleep consultants
• Lactation consultants
• Child development specialists
• Nanny training programmes
• Postnatal care providers

Convenience services:
• Drivers (full-time or ad hoc)
• After-school childcare
• On-demand babysitting (through legal agencies only)

And honestly? Use all of it. There is no prize for doing this alone and losing your sanity in the process.

Preparing your nanny for success

(this is the quiet part nobody talks about)

Hiring a nanny is only the first half of the puzzle. Supporting her, teaching her and giving her the confidence to care for your baby the way you want is the second.

It’s not fair to expect anyone — no matter how kind or experienced — to automatically understand:
• Safe sleep
• Feeding cues
• Pumping and bottle hygiene
• Starting solids
• Developmentally appropriate play
• Newborn communication
• First aid
• Routines
• Emotional regulation
• Gentle boundaries

Most women come into your home willing — but they need training to become confident. And when they are confident? Your return to work becomes infinitely easier.That’s why so many parents in Dubai now look for childcare training courses that are evidence-based, practical, hands-on and tailored to the realities of life here.It doesn’t replace your intuition as a parent — but it gives your nanny a foundation that supports both of you.

Returning to work after having a baby in Dubai is hard. Not because you’re doing anything wrong — but because the structure around you wasn’t designed with modern motherhood in mind. But with the right support, legal childcare, and a properly trained nanny, it can feel manageable. Even enjoyable. I know that seems absolutely unbelievable right now, but come back to me in 6 months and tell me how you feel- I'm there with a cuppa and a Danish!

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