Frequently asked questions.
Browse by topic: from pricing and legal requirements to finding the right helper for your family.
We started Yaya after going through the process ourselves and finding it surprisingly difficult to find trusted childcare in a clear, transparent way. The options felt fragmented: social media groups, outdated listings, and limited information. We built Yaya to make finding a nanny or domestic helper simpler, more transparent, and more human for families in the UAE.
Many families in the UAE live far from their extended support network, and in a lot of households both parents work. That makes reliable childcare essential day-to-day. At the same time, families can feel overwhelmed by the options and the legalities around hiring. We built Yaya to make the process simple, clear, and more transparent.
Yaya is a marketplace that connects families directly with live-in and live-out nannies and domestic helpers, on the web at CareFinder and in the Yaya mobile app. Families can browse profiles, watch video introductions, and message candidates to arrange interviews and trials. Once you've chosen the right person, you agree salary and terms directly with the helper and ensure the employment arrangement is compliant with UAE regulations.
Agencies typically act as intermediaries and manage placements. Yaya is a marketplace platform that connects families directly with independent nannies and domestic helpers, so families can communicate with candidates themselves and choose the right fit for their home. Agencies can be helpful for short-term or time-sensitive needs, while Yaya is designed to make direct hiring more transparent and straightforward for families.
No. Yaya is a marketplace platform, not an agency and not an employer. We connect families with independent caregivers, and families make their own hiring decisions and agree terms directly with the helper in line with UAE regulations.
Facebook groups and directories are often unstructured, outdated, and difficult to verify. Yaya is purpose-built for childcare and works on the web and in the app, so families can filter, compare, and contact candidates in one place. We also monitor platform activity to keep profiles current, and every profile goes through a review process before it becomes visible.
Start by deciding what matters most in your home: is the priority childcare, household duties, or a blend of both. Then interview properly and, where possible, hold an extended interview at home so she can meet your children. References matter too, so speak to previous employers directly and ask about the day-to-day routine. Many families also find it helps to hire someone who has worked with families with similar expectations and household routines. Finally, be very clear from day one about working hours, duties, and house rules. The best long-term arrangements are built on communication and clarity.
A nanny's focus is the children: childcare, school runs, activities, meals for the kids. A nanny/maid takes on a broader role combining childcare with general household duties like cleaning, laundry, and cooking for the whole family. In practice, many families in the UAE need a blend of both, which is why nanny/maid is one of the most commonly searched roles on Yaya. Being clear about what you actually need before you start searching saves a lot of time and avoids mismatched expectations once someone is in your home.
It happens, and it's more common than people expect, especially in the first few weeks. The best protection comes before you commit: interview more than once, hold an extended interview at home where she meets your children, call previous employers and agree terms in writing. If it doesn't work out, families can return to the platform and start a new search at any time. If your subscription is still active, you can reopen your job post immediately.
It depends more on the family than the platform. Families who respond to candidates quickly, schedule interviews promptly, and arrange extended interviews without delay can move through the search phase in a matter of days. Others take a few weeks, which is completely normal. Finding the right person for your home deserves the time it needs. On top of the search itself, visa and sponsorship processing typically adds one to two weeks. If you're working to a specific start date, build in more time than you think you need.
Browse for free in the Yaya mobile app or on CareFinder Web. Subscribe for messaging and contact access in either. Families can start with a free trial in the Yaya mobile app, including 3 free credits. Each message sent, CV viewed or job application viewed uses 1 credit. Choose a weekly, monthly or two-month plan. You pay Yaya for your subscription; helpers never pay Yaya.
You pay Yaya only for your subscription. Salary and benefits are agreed directly between you and the helper, ensuring full transparency and fairness.
Browse for free in the Yaya mobile app or on CareFinder Web. Subscribe for messaging and contact access in either. Families can start with a free trial in the Yaya mobile app, including 3 free credits. Each message sent, CV viewed or job application viewed uses 1 credit.
Pausing your job post does not pause your subscription or its billing. You can pause a job post while interviewing or trialling candidates; your subscription remains active. Manage your subscription separately through the channel where you purchased it.
No. Yaya is not an agency and doesn't sponsor helpers directly. Under UAE law, families must sponsor domestic workers. Our partner Maids.cc can handle sponsorship on your behalf.
No. It's not permitted under UAE law. Yaya strongly recommends moving helpers on "own-visa" arrangements onto either your private sponsorship or an agency sponsorship to comply with government regulations.
Yes, but it needs to be handled correctly and respectfully. The first step is speaking directly with the current family to confirm they are happy for the helper to move on and willing to cancel her existing sponsorship so it can be transferred to you. Without that agreement, the process cannot move forward legally.
Strongly recommended, even if it feels overly formal. A simple written agreement covering salary, working hours, duties, days off, notice period, and accommodation terms protects both sides and prevents the misunderstandings that cause most arrangements to break down.
Families must apply for a domestic-worker visa. Through our partner Maids.cc, you get AED 250 off your helper's visa. Unlike private sponsorship, Maids.cc only requires your and the helper's passports. Everything is done over WhatsApp, with the visa ready in around eight days and no office visits.
Private sponsorship costs around AED 7,000 in the first year and around AED 9,000 annually thereafter, plus a refundable AED 2,000 deposit. Agency sponsorship via Maids.cc costs AED 8,250 for a two-year visa plus AED 160 per month service fee. The agency handles visa processing, medical fitness, Emirates ID, and health insurance, and assumes legal responsibility.
Private sponsorship typically requires your Emirates ID, tenancy or title deed, marriage certificate, salary certificate, and the helper's passport. Using Maids.cc requires only your and the helper's passports.
Every profile is reviewed before it becomes visible on Yaya. We check identity documents, review the experience and profile details the helper has supplied, and contact her directly before her profile is approved. A video introduction is required on every profile. Helpers can also include references from previous employers, and we make it easy for families to contact those references directly before making a hiring decision.
Yaya lists nannies, nanny/maids, nanny/caregivers, maids, cooks, and drivers. We also feature specialists for prenatal, postnatal, wellness, and child-development support.
Helpers typically list expected salaries between AED 2,000 and 5,000 per month depending on role and experience. Payments go directly to the helper; Yaya takes no commission.
You can message helpers securely through the Yaya app, reach out via WhatsApp, or call directly. Many helpers are working during the day so responses might take a little time, so messaging early and keeping your introduction friendly and clear tends to get faster replies.
Live-in helpers are provided accommodation as part of the job. Meals and other allowances are usually negotiated in the salary package or agreed separately for live-out roles.
Yaya monitors login and activity to prioritise active profiles. Profiles that are inactive are flagged and removed.
Many helpers include references from previous employers on their profile. We make it straightforward for families to reach out to those references directly, and we'd always encourage you to do so before hiring.
As part of the UAE visa process, all helpers are required to pass mandatory government medical tests, including infectious disease screening and general fitness checks, before their visa is issued.
Families' contact details are never shared publicly. If a family chooses, helpers can apply directly to their job posts, and can use Yaya messaging on CareFinder Web or in the app. Calls and WhatsApp conversations take place outside Yaya.
Yes. Yaya maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination or misconduct. We promote equality and inclusion across all users and investigate any reported issues immediately.
No. Yaya is a platform, not an agency, that connects families directly with helpers. There are no placement fees or commissions, and subscriptions can be purchased on CareFinder Web or through the Yaya mobile app.
Use our smart filters to narrow your search by role, experience, languages, live-in/live-out, and more. Read profiles carefully, watch video greetings, and message early. Friendly, clear messages get faster replies.
Yes. Yaya currently operates in the UAE and Bahrain, with plans to expand across the GCC.
Yes, if your settings allow. Helpers can apply to your jobs inside the app, but Yaya never shares your contact details externally for privacy.
Yes. Families often shortlist several helpers before deciding. Multiple interviews help you compare experience and expectations effectively.
Good matches move quickly. We have families hiring every day. If someone you liked is no longer available, the best approach is to shortlist a few candidates rather than focusing on one.
Our UAE team searches the caregiver profiles on Yaya against your family’s brief. We contact suitable caregivers about your role and introduce those who confirm their interest and availability. You arrange interviews and make the hiring decision.
Choose Curated Shortlist if you want up to two rounds of profiles and prefer to manage the next steps yourself. Choose Managed Search if you want an ongoing search for up to 45 calendar days, written summaries of caregiver calls, a named coordinator, and CV and reference checks on the candidate you choose.
No. Concierge is a separate, one-off paid service. You can also search independently through CareFinder Web or the Yaya mobile app; their subscription terms remain separate.
Concierge adds a role-specific conversation to Yaya’s existing platform profile-review process. We explain your job and check interest, availability, salary expectations and working conditions. Managed Search includes a more detailed call and a written summary, and once you have chosen a candidate we review her CV and contact her references. Other answers are supplied by the caregiver and cannot be independently guaranteed.
No. The fee covers the team’s search work and the services in your package. A hire and continued caregiver availability are not guaranteed, and post-hire replacements are not included. The service agreement explains the limited substitution arrangements that can apply during a search.
You arrange interviews and any lawful trial, make the offer and handle the employment relationship. Trial coordination is not included. CV and reference checks are part of Managed Search only, and run on the candidate you choose. Once you hire, we can offer general visa guidance and introductions to independent licensed providers. Their fees and services are separate.
Contact the Yaya team to choose your package and complete the service agreement. Payment is made through a Stripe link within 48 hours of signing. We begin once your brief is approved and payment is confirmed.
Cancellation and refunds are governed by your separate Concierge Service Agreement, which you receive before signing and paying. Contact support@yayamiddleeast.com for help.
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