Whether domestic help is something you’ve used or not, the fact remains that plenty of women from countries such as the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia come to the UAE to seek such employment.
And the cost of hiring them is often surprisingly low, with it costing from Dhs700 to Dhs1,200 per month for a live-in maid, nanny or any other domestic worker.
The easiest way to find someone suitable is through an agency. Two of the more reputable ones we’ve come across are Clean Plus Services (02 645 6800) and Wilson International (02 667 1200), who will sort out sponsorship paperwork for you and allow you to choose from a list of potential candidates.
Anyone you hire has to be employed under your visa and you’ll be the sponsor for their work visa under UAE labour law. This means you cannot share domestic help, so if a friend asks to borrow your maid to look after their kids for a while, your answer has to be no. Ministry of Labour laws state you can be fined Dhs50,000 for employing a worker who is not sponsored by you, or who you’re paying cash in hand, while the domestic worker will face a Dhs100,000 fine, could be sent to prison and banned from entering the country for a year. In short, don’t share your help with anyone.
View cleaners and maids in Abu Dhabi directory
What are the laws? For a live-in domestic worker, regardless of whether you found them through an agency or a newspaper advert, you need to sponsor their employment visa. It should be displayed in their passport whenever they are entering or exiting the country. You will have to apply for the visa from the Abu Dhabi General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs (02 402 4500). There’s a fee of Dhs5,000 a year to the immigration office and you’ll need to prove that your monthly income, after the cost of accommodation, is not less than Dhs6,500. There will be a service charge of between Dhs3,500 and Dhs5,300 if you are selecting someone through an agency, along with the cost of the air ticket. You will need a residence form filled out in Arabic (except for your name which must be in English and Arabic), a letter of no objection from your sponsor, four passport photos, a copy of your passport and your domestic worker’s passport. You will also need to apply for a labour card and a medical certificate for your employee, which includes health insurance and medical treatments. This costs around Dhs600.
What do I need to provide for my domestic worker? It is necessary to allow your help to return home every two years and provide the cost of the flight and incidental expenses, including food. Also worth noting is that, according to a rule passed four years ago, you cannot sponsor a domestic worker from your own country of origin. This system is in place to ensure there are no discrepancies caused by bringing in individuals on sponsored visas. For example, sponsoring a relative who wishes to work in the UAE illegally.
What do I need to be careful of? If it doesn’t work out between you and someone you employ, and you have to let them go before their contractual agreement ends, then a ban is imposed that prevents them from working in the UAE for six months. After that six months, they will then have to re-enter the country on a new visa. This applies even if you give them a no-objection letter, meaning they can return to the country to work. Nationals and expats caught borrowing or lending their domestic help should keep in mind that not only will they be fined, but the worker they share will be fined twice as much and face a possible jail term. Take into consideration who else your actions might affect. The housemaid who has left everything behind and helped make things better for you at home will be deported and not allowed to re-enter the country for a year.
What are the rules for part-time workers? Check the credentials of domestic worker services advertised online before you jump in and start to celebrate at their rates. Employing a maid through a reputable company on a part-time basis means you won’t have to fall foul of any new government laws you aren’t aware of. Prices range from Dhs20 to Dhs70 per hour. All maid services are required to renew their trade licenses every year and maids are placed on their company’s visa.
Call Exiles Maid Services (02 557 1542).
Meet the staff
Three Abu Dhabi residents reveal what it’s like working as domestic help in our city.
Kimley, 32, nanny and maid
I’ve been in the UAE for two years and I like it. I always wanted to travel and see the world, but I’ve a seven year old daughter back home and the money I earn here pays her school fees, health insurance and day-to-day living costs. My day starts around 6am when I get the family’s two kids ready for school. I then clean the house and prepare the meals, usually finishing around 10pm each night. I was an insurance broker in the Philippines and earned the same as I do here (Dhs1,500), but I have no costs here in the UAE and send Dhs1,000 home each month.
Frank, 45, handyman
I’m from the UK and used to have a good job here, but I lost it and had to find something quickly to cover the bills. So I became a handyman, basically to see me through. I’ve fixed furniture, painted rooms and hung pictures mainly for friends and friends of friends. Most people just don’t want to do stuff around their homes and are happy to get someone in to do the work. The majority of people are great, friendly and really happy with the work I do. I’m lucky though: now I’m back on my feet with a regular job again and only fix my own house!
Ganhesh, 48, driver
I’ve been here 23 years and seen the city grow during my time. I’m from Kerala in India but Abu Dhabi is now my home. I usually begin each day around 7am and take the family’s kids to school, then Sir to work. Later I might take Madam to the shops or to see friends and then it’s back to pick up the kids again. I really enjoy my job and being out in the city each day and I always try to drive safely and not fast because I see so many accidents every day. When I finish driving at night, I check the oil and water in the car and give it a good clean inside and out.
