How to make money as a childminder in the United Arab Emirates

Where paying customers come from

Most paying clients for childminders in the UAE are people you meet in your neighbourhood and community. Parents ask people they already trust - neighbours, colleagues, or other parents at the school gate - before they try an online marketplace. Expat and local community groups on WhatsApp or Facebook are active sources of leads in many areas.

Workplaces and companies sometimes need flexible cover for staff and will ask colleagues for recommendations. Schools and nurseries are less likely to outsource regular care, but they and after-school programmes can still be sources of short-term or one-off requests. Online search and marketplaces attract people who are actively looking and who prefer booking and paying online.

• Neighbours and parents in your building or compound
• Work colleagues and employer networks
• School or after-school parent networks
• Community chat groups and social media
• Online search and local marketplaces

Setting your first price and talking about money

Start by looking at what nearby providers charge so you are not the cheapest by accident. Don’t invent a complicated pricing scheme at first. Decide whether you charge by the hour, by the day, or by a block of time, and include travel time and materials in your rate or show them as extras.

When talking money, be clear and direct. Explain what the fee covers, your cancellation policy, whether you accept card or cash, and any deposit required for bookings. Ask for payment before the first session or require a small refundable deposit for the booking. If a parent asks for a discount, consider offering a defined package - for example a limited trial rate for a set number of hours - rather than an open-ended reduced rate.

• Decide charging method - hourly, daily or packages
• Include travel and materials or list them as extras
• State cancellation and deposit policy up front
• Be ready to accept the payment methods parents prefer

What your first ten customers usually look like

Your earliest customers are often people who already trust you. That includes neighbours, friends of family, colleagues and parents from a child’s school or playgroup. Many new childminders pick up one-off bookings for evenings or weekends, then a few recurring short shifts for the same family.

Expect a mix of trial bookings and repeat business. Some families want a regular part-time arrangement, others only need emergency or occasional cover. Track how each customer found you so you can focus on the most reliable channels.

• Friends, family or neighbours who already know you
• Colleagues and workplace referrals
• Parents met through school or playgroups
• Leads from community chat groups and online listings

Legal, tax and payment checks to sort out in the UAE

Do not assume any private work is automatically permitted. Check with the emirate’s Department of Economic Development or the relevant free zone authority about whether offering childminding services requires a trade licence or permit at your location. Ask specifically whether an in-home childminding service is allowed under a personal licence or needs a commercial licence.

Contact the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) to ask whether your services require VAT registration and how services are treated for VAT. For health and safety, contact the local municipality or the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) to ask about any inspections, vaccination records or child safety requirements for childcare at home. For work authorisation, check with the immigration authority or your visa sponsor whether your visa allows paid work in the UAE.

If you plan to take card payments through a platform, check with your bank and with the payment provider. Websta uses Stripe to route card payments to the provider’s own bank account - contact Stripe support and your bank to confirm that payouts to your account are supported and what documentation they need.

• Ask the Department of Economic Development or free zone authority if a licence is needed
• Ask the Federal Tax Authority whether VAT applies to your services
• Ask MOHAP or the local municipality about health and safety and record requirements
• Check your visa and work permission with immigration or your sponsor
• Confirm with Stripe and your bank that payouts to your account are supported

Common problems in the first months

Several mistakes recur for new childminders. Underpricing is common - it brings bookings but not sustainable income. Overbooking and schedule conflicts are another frequent issue; keep a simple calendar and block times you cannot work. Communication gaps about scope - for example whether you do light housework or only child supervision - lead to disputes.

Payment problems happen when terms are informal. Use written confirmations, require deposits for new customers, and choose payment methods that leave a record. Keep a basic accident log and emergency contacts for each child. If a safety incident occurs, follow the guidance of health authorities and be transparent with the family.

• Underpricing can make growth unsustainable
• Schedule conflicts - keep a calendar and buffer times
• Unclear scope - set boundaries about chores and supervision
• Payment disputes - use written confirmations and deposits
• Safety incidents - keep records and follow health guidance

How a Websta profile fits into this

A Websta profile gives you a single page that looks like a small website where you list services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. You can send this page to people who ask for details and use it as the destination for leads from social posts and chat groups. Websta’s marketplace also allows nearby customers to find providers by service and location and to post tasks for offers.

Card payments from customers are paid out to the provider’s own bank account through Stripe and the provider sets the prices. That means you can accept online bookings and card payments without creating a separate payment flow, but you should still confirm with Stripe and your bank that payouts work for your account and keep records for any local reporting you need to do.

• Single page to send to parents and to use in ads and chats
• Online booking and contact form reduce back-and-forth
• Card payments routed to your bank account via Stripe
• You set your own prices and terms on the profile

Practical next steps to get started

Start small and test: take a few trial bookings from people you already know. Prepare a short written agreement covering times, fees and cancellation, and collect a deposit for first bookings. Gather basic documents you may be asked for - ID, a police clearance, basic first-aid certificate - and put them on your profile.

Create your Websta profile with clear service descriptions, your cancellation policy, and photos of any child-safe areas you use. Track where each inquiry came from so you can focus on the channels that bring reliable customers. Remember that building a dependable client base takes time and consistent quality, not promises of quick income.

• Take 2-4 trial bookings with people who already trust you
• Prepare a short written agreement and require a deposit
• Collect ID, references and any training certificates you have
• Set up a Websta profile with services, prices and booking