Kuwait remains one of the more affordable markets for employing domestic workers within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), according to the 2026 GCC Domestic Worker Salary Report. The report highlights that despite gradual wage increases across the region, Kuwait offers comparatively lower salary costs to employers while providing reasonable purchasing power for domestic workers.

Khaled Al-Dakhnan, Head of the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices, noted that domestic worker recruitment costs in Kuwait have been adjusted multiple times over the past five years. These changes aim to balance maintaining consumer affordability with the need to sustain international recruitment partnerships. Al-Dakhnan indicated that salaries for domestic workers in Kuwait remain among the lowest in the GCC, with foreign recruitment agencies receiving limited commissions. As a result, recruitment offices in Kuwait face challenges generating profit margins comparable to those in neighboring countries, which can influence the ability to attract higher-qualified or more experienced workers.

The report outlines that salary levels for domestic workers in Kuwait are lower than in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, though broadly similar to those in Bahrain and Oman. Across the GCC, domestic worker wages increased between 3 and 7 percent in 2026 compared with the previous year. Notably, Filipino domestic workers in the UAE saw the largest rise at 7 percent, while Ethiopian workers in Saudi Arabia experienced a 5 percent increase. The UAE continues to dominate as the highest-paying market for domestic drivers, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Employers in Kuwait benefit from relatively lower salary obligations, making the recruitment and retention of domestic workers more cost-effective. While nominal wages may be lower, many domestic workers receive additional benefits including employer-provided accommodation, meals, medical coverage, and transportation support, which enhance their overall purchasing power. The demand for migrant domestic labor in Kuwait remains steady, especially for roles in household services, childcare, elderly care, and driving.

However, Kuwait faces growing competition from higher-paying GCC markets, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which increasingly attract skilled and experienced workers through better wages and earning potential. Rising wage levels across the region contribute to higher recruitment costs, posing ongoing challenges for Kuwait’s domestic labor market. Additionally, wage floor policies enforced by labor-exporting countries continue to impact salary expectations and exert upward pressure on compensation.

Overall, Kuwait’s domestic worker recruitment sector is navigating a complex environment, aiming to sustain affordable employment costs while adapting to evolving market demands and regional labor dynamics.