KUWAIT: The 2026 GCC Domestic Worker Salary Report reveals that Kuwait remains one of the more affordable domestic worker markets within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). According to the study, Kuwait continues to offer competitive employment opportunities, with relatively low wage costs for employers and reasonable purchasing power for workers.
The domestic worker recruitment sector in Kuwait has undergone several pricing adjustments over the past five years as Kuwait seeks to balance consumer affordability with the sustainability of international recruitment partnerships, according to Khaled Al-Dakhnan, Head of the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices.
“Recruitment-related fees and costs have been revised more than three or four times during the past five years in response to operational changes and market requirements,” Al-Dakhnan said, noting that domestic workers’ salaries in Kuwait remain among the lowest in the Gulf region. He added that the rates offered to overseas recruitment agencies are relatively limited. As a result, foreign agencies are unable to achieve profit margins comparable to those available in some neighboring countries.
Al-Dakhnan further explained that the quality of workers supplied by overseas recruitment offices is directly linked to the salary levels and financial incentives provided by the recruiting office. “Lower commissions and salary packages can affect the ability of foreign agencies to attract and provide workers with higher qualifications and experience,” he said.
The chairman emphasized that Kuwait’s domestic worker recruitment sector continues to operate within a framework aimed at maintaining reasonable costs for consumers while ensuring sustainable cooperation with overseas recruitment agencies and securing the workforce needed to meet varying market demands.
Meanwhile, the report compares Kuwait’s domestic worker salary levels with those of other GCC countries and highlights key market trends shaping the regional domestic labor sector. Domestic worker salaries across the GCC rose between +3 percent and +7 percent in 2026 compared with 2025 levels.
The strongest gains were recorded for Filipino workers in the UAE (+7 percent) and Ethiopian workers in Saudi Arabia (+5 percent). The UAE remains the highest-paying market for domestic drivers in nominal terms across the GCC, followed closely by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Kuwait ranks below these three countries but remains broadly comparable to Bahrain and Oman.
Kuwait maintains a competitive position in the regional domestic worker market due to several advantages. From an employer perspective, salary obligations are lower than in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, making recruitment and ongoing employment costs more attractive for households.
Although nominal wages are lower, domestic workers in Kuwait often benefit from employer-provided accommodation, food, medical coverage and transportation support, which enhance their overall purchasing power. In addition, Kuwait continues to experience stable demand for migrant domestic labor across household services, childcare, elderly care and driving occupations.
Despite these strengths, Kuwait faces growing challenges from higher-paying GCC markets. The UAE and Saudi Arabia increasingly attract experienced domestic workers by offering higher wages and stronger earning potential, particularly for skilled Filipino workers. Recruitment pressures are also increasing as wage levels continue to rise across the GCC, contributing to higher recruitment costs over time. Furthermore, wage floor policies established by labor-sending countries continue to influence salary expectations and place upward pressure on compensation levels.
