Saudi Arabia's New Domestic Worker Salary System

Saudi Arabia’s new domestic worker salary system is an important update for household employers, particularly following the full implementation of mandatory electronic salary transfers for all employers on January 1, 2026. The system aims to organize salary payments, maintain digital records, and protect the rights of both employers and domestic workers.

The new system goes beyond changing how salaries are paid. It replaces traditional payment methods with a digital process that can be tracked and documented through approved channels connected to Musaned. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development states that the electronic domestic worker salary transfer service is available through Musaned and provides free, instant transfers.

Whether you want to understand how to transfer domestic worker salaries or choose the best payment method, this guide explains what you need to know before making a payment.

How Does the New Domestic Worker Salary System Work?

The new domestic worker salary system requires salaries to be transferred electronically instead of relying on traditional payment methods that may not provide clear digital records.

Payments are made through approved digital channels and documented through the employer’s Musaned account. According to the ministry, the service is designed for individual employers and domestic workers and is available through Musaned without a service fee.

Key Benefits of Electronic Salary Transfers

• Creating digital records of salary payments.

• Making it easier to prove that wages have been paid.

• Organizing monthly payments.

• Reducing disputes over whether a salary was received.

• Supporting procedures related to the end of employment or the worker’s departure.

• Helping workers manage their salaries and send money to their families more easily and securely.

When Did Electronic Domestic Worker Salary Transfers Become Mandatory?

The final phase of mandatory electronic salary transfers took effect on January 1, 2026, extending the requirement to all employers in Saudi Arabia.

Employers must therefore use approved payment channels and document payments electronically wherever the requirement applies, rather than relying on traditional payment methods.

It is important to distinguish between the salary amount and the payment method. The system regulates how wages are transferred and recorded; it does not introduce a new standard salary for all domestic workers.

Does the New Domestic Worker Salary System Mean Higher Salaries?

No. Implementing the system does not automatically increase a domestic worker’s salary.

Its main purpose is to organize salary payments and document them electronically, rather than set a new uniform wage. The amount payable remains the salary agreed upon in the employment contract and documented through the required procedures. For information about wage amounts and the factors that influence them, see our guide todomestic worker salaries.

Employers should ensure that the amount transferred matches the salary due and the recorded details, rather than treating the system as a new salary scale.

Who Must Transfer Domestic Worker Salaries Electronically?

The requirement applies to employers who employ domestic workers. Its final implementation phase extended coverage to all employers from the beginning of 2026.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development explains that the digital transfer service is intended for individual employers and domestic workers and operates through Musaned and its connected payment channels.

If you employ a domestic worker, use approved digital channels to pay their salary instead of relying on undocumented cash payments.

What Are the Requirements for Electronic Salary Transfers?

Before making a transfer, check that the service requirements are in place. According to the ministry, these include:

1. An employment contract documented through Musaned.

2. A transfer made by the employer personally.

3. An account for the domestic worker created using the mobile number linked to their Iqama, or residence permit.

Accurate, up-to-date worker information also helps ensure that the worker appears correctly in the payment service.

If the worker does not appear in the list when you attempt a transfer, review their details, employment contract, and account information before trying again.

How to Transfer a Domestic Worker’s Salary Step by Step

The transfer process involves the following electronic steps:

1. Ensure the Worker’s Mobile Number Is Linked to Their Iqama

Start by ensuring that the domestic worker has a mobile number linked to their Iqama, as required by the service.

2. Create an Account Through an Approved Digital Channel

Create an account for the worker with an approved digital wallet or payment channel. The account must be registered using the worker’s details so that payments can be processed and recorded correctly.

3. Sign In to Your Chosen Wallet or Payment Channel

Once the worker’s account is ready, the employer signs in to the digital wallet or payment channel they will use to transfer the salary.

4. Select the Domestic Worker Salary Service

Choose the domestic worker salary option to view the workers registered under the employer’s name.

5. Review the Worker’s Details and Payment Amount

Before confirming, check the worker’s name, account details, and the amount to be transferred.

6. Confirm the Payment

After reviewing the information, confirm the payment to complete the transfer. The ministry states that payments are documented through the service user’s Musaned account.

What Is the Best Way to Transfer a Domestic Worker’s Salary?

The best approach is to use an approved digital channel connected to the domestic worker salary service.

There is no single channel that is necessarily best for every employer. Your choice may depend on the services available to you and the options displayed when making the payment. When comparing channels, look for one that:

• Documents salary payments.

• Makes payment records easy to retain.

• Connects to the domestic worker salary service.

• Provides a clear transfer process.

• Reduces the risk of entering incorrect recipient details.

In August 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that the digital salary payment system for domestic workers had expanded to 16 payment channels, giving employers more options for electronic transfers.

Domestic Worker Salary Payment Methods: Choosing the Right Option

Under the new system, salaries are paid through approved digital channels connected to Musaned.

Official service materials refer to approved digital wallets and payment channels, while the ministry’s latest update states that the number of payment channels has reached 16.

Avoid relying on an outdated or fixed list of applications, as the available channels may expand over time.

Choose a channel currently available within the service and confirm that it is officially approved before making a transfer.

Are There Fees for Transferring a Domestic Worker’s Salary?

According to the ministry’s official service page, the domestic worker salary transfer service itself is free. This makes electronic transfers a practical way to pay salaries and document them at the same time.

However, distinguish between the salary transfer service and any separate services for which a financial provider may charge fees. Review your chosen provider’s terms before completing a transaction.

Are Domestic Worker Salary Payments Documented?

Yes. One of the main advantages of electronic transfers is that payments are documented through the service user’s Musaned account.

This record benefits both parties. It helps employers demonstrate that they have met their payment obligations and gives workers a clearer record of the payments they have received.

Electronic transfers therefore form part of managing the employment relationship, as well as providing a way to send money.

How to Transfer a Domestic Worker’s Salary for the First Time

If you are using the service for the first time, check that all required information is ready before sending any money. Follow this sequence:

1. Confirm that the worker’s employment contract is documented in Musaned.

2. Check that the worker’s details match their Iqama records.

3. Create the required digital account for the worker.

4. Choose an approved payment channel.

5. Open the domestic worker salary service.

6. Review the worker’s name and details.

7. Enter the amount due.

8. Confirm the payment.

9. Keep a record of the completed transaction.

Following these steps helps make the process clear and organized while reducing errors and missed payment records. If you are still arranging recruitment, ask anaccredited recruitment office about contract documentation and salary details before finalizing the agreement, so your obligations are clear from the outset.

Can You Pay a Salary in Advance or Record an Advance Payment?

Official service guidance indicates that the service allows employers to pay salaries in advance, provide an advance payment, or record a deduction, with a note identifying the transaction type.

This gives employers a clearer way to document different financial transactions instead of transferring money without specifying its purpose.

Whenever a payment differs from the regular salary, clearly record what it represents to avoid confusion when reviewing payment records later.

What If the Worker Does Not Appear in the Salary Service?

A worker may not appear if one of the service’s basic requirements has not been completed. Start by checking:

• The employment contract’s status in Musaned.

• The worker’s Iqama details.

• The mobile number linked to the worker’s Iqama.

• The worker’s digital account.

• Whether the transfer is being made from the employer’s own account.

• The accuracy of the registered information.

The service requires a contract documented through Musaned, a transfer made by the employer personally, and a worker account created using the mobile number linked to their Iqama.

If the problem continues after these requirements have been met, contact official support rather than repeatedly attempting undocumented transfers.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Transferring a Domestic Worker’s Salary

Although the digital process is straightforward, certain mistakes can prevent a payment from going through or cause it to be recorded incorrectly. These include:

1. Transferring the salary from another person’s account.

2. Relying on cash payments.

3. Failing to check the salary amount.

4. Overlooking the employment contract details.

5. Using an unapproved payment channel.

How Does the New Domestic Worker Salary System Benefit Employers?

Alongside protecting workers’ rights, the system offers employers several practical benefits:

• Documented payments.

• Better expense management.

• Fewer disputes.

• Easier payment tracking.

• Clearer financial records when employment ends.

Keeping salary records helps employers review payments at the end of the employment relationship. However, wages already paid should be distinguished from other amounts that may be due, such as end-of-service benefits for domestic workers, where applicable.

How Do Electronic Salary Transfers Benefit Domestic Workers?

Electronic salary transfers also provide important benefits for workers, including:

• A clear record of payments received.

• Greater clarity about financial arrangements with the employer.

• Easier salary management.

• Access to digital channels for sending money to family members in their home country.

• Better documentation of wage payments.

The ministry explains that electronic transfers help domestic workers send their salaries to their families back home safely and reliably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Electronic Domestic Worker Salary Transfers Mandatory in 2026?

Yes. The final phase of mandatory electronic salary transfers took effect on January 1, 2026, extending the requirement to all employers.

What Is the Best Way to Transfer a Domestic Worker’s Salary?

Use an approved digital channel connected to the domestic worker salary service. These channels provide electronic transfers and payment documentation.

How Do You Transfer Domestic Worker Salaries Through Musaned?

First, create an account for the worker through an approved digital channel. The employer then signs in to the chosen channel, selects the domestic worker salary service, reviews the worker’s details, and confirms the payment.

Is a Documented Employment Contract Required?

Yes. A contract documented through Musaned is one of the service requirements.

Set Up Salary Transfers Correctly from the Start

Saudi Arabia’s new domestic worker salary system has become an essential part of managing the relationship between employers and domestic workers. Electronic salary payments help document compliance, organize payments, and protect both parties’ rights.

Whether you are recruiting a domestic worker or already employ one, ensure that the employment contract is documented, the worker’s information is ready, and an approved payment channel is used. After completing each transfer, review the transaction details.

AtAl-Nujoom Al-Mumayaza Recruitment, we help you choose a suitable domestic worker and begin the recruitment process based on your family’s needs, with clear and organized procedures from the outset.

Contact Al-Nujoom Al-Mumayaza Recruitment today to find the right domestic worker for your household.