as0056

My wife and I are moving to Abu Dhabi in a couple of months. We don't want a live in maid but would like someone to come in for an hour a day, do the ironing and clean on alternate days etc.

We've got a dog and whilst we wouldn't be asking the cleaner to walk her, both my wife and I will be at work so we need someone who would be comfortable being with the dog, let her out into the garden etc when they come to the house.

Does anyone have any experience with a cleaner who'd fit the bill?

Thanks

busybee2

well i hope that you know the rules re maids and sponsorship. to get a part time maid your only option is through an agency, and they are thin on the ground these days. they also cost about the same as full time one.

commander

try exiles cleaning services

Tillybean

I use Exiles and can give you a contact name and number if you are interested.

weescot

Most building/complex security guards know women that are always on the prowl for cleaning work if you didn't want to go down the agency/maid route. What part of town will you be living in? I have a couple of contacts - my own cleaner is on home leave now, but I can ask her when she returns.

It is techincally against the law, but it is common ptarctice for "FT" sponsored maids to be allowed to do additional PT work in exchange for a lower wage. As long as you are discrete about things, it can work - just make sure you have a photocopy of their residents visa so you know who their sponsor actually is.

busybee2

and be aware that if caught the sponsor, maid, you can all be fined (50k)/jail/deported. but thats fine as "eveyone is doing it".

commander

and how often is this enforced?

busybee2

more than you would believe. i have know 3 people to have been caught, and friends of mine 3 people, different people. it does happen, and quite often its because of something else and they check up on you. i am sure it happens more than we think, but i dont suppose people are going to broadcast about it when it does. usually in the case of expats they get fined only.

Grace O Malley

I have only ever heard of one person getting the 50,000 but that was sheer bad luck, one of the top guys at immigration was living in the same area and was watching all the comings and goings of the maids. Just damn bad luck, I have not sponsored a maid for years, but have had part time ones and never had a problem

weescot

Exactly. Discretion is the key - and not to upset anyone that might snitch on you. Living in a tower block the "comings and goings" can be discrete.

commander

yea, we too have part time ones..never any hassle at all.

busybee2

yes discretion is the key, whether you being in an apartment or compound, as there are many people in those that can be watching, in stand alone villas then of course less likely to notice. also they do sometimes check when

the "sponsor" was working in immigration and i think she was "sponsoring" many maids, and the paperwork was forged, so it was picked up in immigration and nobody spying on them that they got caught out. the sponsor was thrown in jail, the maid was thrown in jail, after court case she was deported, and the expat got a 10k fine, it was a few years ago. but the family's life was put on hold, as they had to surrender passport and going back and forth to court, all in all it took 6 months.....

commander

i think i remember that. a once off thou and really shouldnt detract people from doing it. My mate got jailed here a couple of years ago cause the police didnt like the way he accellerated at a green light...it was a one off, and i wouldnt advise people here not to drive because of that..

busybee2

i was going to add that you are more likely to be "awarded" a fine on the road...... but forewarned is forearmed. i know of somebody that was jailed because the white car in front reversed into him, i know of somebody that had to flee the country because he was going to be charged with the death of his wife ......... but luckily these things dont happen too often. but they can and do happen.

Bahtatboy

But if the bloke at the lights next to you winds down his window and says that he's an undercover cop and if you don't let him cut in front of you at the lights he'll nick you for something spurious, whaddya going to do? Or if the obnoxious old bag living next to you threatens that if you park in "her" parking space...

Dunno, maybe its just an age thing, and I've reached that age where the minor things don't matter any more, security for my family overrides everything.