What Is an Ajir Contract for Residents?
An Ajir contract for residents (عقد أجير للمقيمين) — also called an Individual Ajir Contract — is a specific type of labor lease agreement under Saudi Arabia's Ajir System designed for private individuals and families rather than commercial entities. It allows Saudi nationals and legal residents to access domestic workers on monthly lease contracts through licensed agencies, without taking on the full obligations of direct sponsorship.
This contract type has grown significantly in popularity as Saudi families seek flexible, cost-effective access to domestic workers — particularly housemaids, nannies, cooks and private drivers — without the upfront costs and administrative complexity of overseas recruitment.
Requirements for an Individual Ajir Contract
- Licensed Agency: The arrangement must be made through a licensed manpower supply company registered with the Ministry of Human Resources.
- Documented Contract: The lease contract must be registered on the official Ajir platform — verbal agreements are not sufficient.
- Valid Iqama: The worker must hold a valid iqama. The Ajir contract does not work with workers who have expired residency.
- Trade Matching: The worker's iqama occupation must match the actual work they will perform under the contract.
- Family's Consent: The family receiving the worker must formally accept the terms recorded on the platform.
Individual Ajir vs Full Domestic Worker Recruitment
Many Saudi families ask which option is better — direct overseas recruitment (istiqdam) or an Individual Ajir contract. The answer depends on their specific situation:
Individual Ajir contract is better if you:
- Want to test a domestic arrangement before committing long-term
- Need a worker quickly (weeks, not months)
- Want to avoid the SAR 10,000–20,000 upfront recruitment cost
- Prefer not to manage iqama, insurance and return ticket obligations directly
- Need flexibility to end the arrangement without complex procedures
Full overseas recruitment is better if you:
- Need a specific nationality or very specific profile unavailable in the local market
- Want the worker to be under your household sponsorship long-term
- Plan to employ the worker for many years and value stability
Monthly Rates for Individual Ajir Contracts — 2026
- Housemaid: SAR 1,200–1,900/month depending on nationality and agency
- Nanny: SAR 1,400–2,200/month
- Private driver: SAR 1,800–2,800/month (see our driver hire guide)
- Cook: SAR 1,600–2,500/month
How WeRecruit Helps
WeRecruit connects families with licensed agencies that offer Individual Ajir contracts in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and all major Saudi cities. Contact us via WhatsApp with your domestic worker requirements — type, preferred nationality and city — and we'll match you with a suitable provider.