The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) announced that domestic workers over the age of 60 can renew their contract and stay with their sponsor under certain conditions. Previously, domestic workers who reached 60 years-old while working in the country were required to return to their home country at the conclusion of their existing contract.

The conditions set out by the MOHRE to renew contracts for domestic workers over the age of 60 are: 

1. Domestic workers should be deemed physically fit and have a medical certificate issued by the official government authorities. 
2. Employers must bear the entire actual financial costs of their medical treatment in the UAE
3. Sponsors must obtain official approval from official government authorities to allow the continuation of the domestic worker’s residency visa in the UAE
4. The domestic worker must already be working in the UAE, and no more than three months may have elapsed since their last employment contract expired.

Other countries in the Gulf also sometimes allow domestic workers over the age of 60 to continue working if sponsors obtain special approval from relevant authorities, though there are no specific mechanisms in place.