UAE is in the limelight for attracting top talent from across the world. However many expats moving to the UAE find themselves missing the support system they had back home, where family and local community members often help with day-to-day household tasks. In their home countries, they might have had easy access to assistance from relatives or housekeepers nearby who were familiar and readily available. However, upon arriving in the UAE, expats often leave this extended support network behind. Given that local UAE citizens are generally not available for hire in such roles, expats must rely on professional housekeeping services.
Considering this significant change, what should expats keep in mind when choosing a housekeeping service provider to effectively fill this gap and ensure their homes run smoothly? We have Chris Camay, Manager at Dubai Housekeeping, shares expert insights on what expats should consider when selecting a housekeeping service provider in the UAE.
Question: How do I find the best cleaning service?
Chris Camay: Moving to the UAE is an exciting adventure, but it also comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to managing household chores without the support system you had back home. Finding the right housekeeping service can make a significant difference in maintaining a clean and organized home.
In the UAE, the terms housekeeping services, maid services, and cleaning services are often used interchangeably and refer to professional assistance with maintaining a clean and organized home. Here are a few important factors:
1. Ensure It Is a Legal Establishment
One of the most crucial aspects to consider when hiring a housekeeping service in the UAE is ensuring that the service provider is a legally established entity. Hiring from a legal establishment protects you from potential legal issues and guarantees a certain level of professionalism and accountability.
Tips to Ensure Legality:
– Check Registration: Ensure that the Cleaning company is registered with the relevant local authorities in UAE. This can often be verified through their website or by directly asking the company for their trade license number.
– Licensed Staff: Verify that the cleaners employed by the company have valid work visas and are legally permitted to work in the UAE. This is particularly important in ensuring that you are not inadvertently hiring undocumented workers.
– Compliance with Labor Laws: A reputable cleaning service company will comply with UAE labor laws, which include fair wages, proper working conditions, and adequate rest periods for their employees. You can ask the company directly about their compliance policies or look for information on their website, social media accounts.
Insiders Secret: Check if they have a physical office & a landline. You can’t get them without a valid trade license.
For example, Dubai Housekeeping is a fully licensed and registered company that complies with all UAE labor laws, ensuring that their staff is legally employed and fairly treated. The social media account gives a peek into the behind the scenes work environment.
2. Good Reputation
A good reputation is a strong indicator of a reliable and professional housekeeping service. It’s essential to do your research and choose a company with a solid track record of satisfied clients.
Tips to Assess Reputation:
– Online Reviews: Look for reviews on platforms such as Google and Facebook. Reading both positive and negative reviews will give you a balanced view of the company’s performance.
– Testimonials: Check the company’s website for client testimonials. While these are often positive, they can provide insight into the company’s strengths.
– Word of Mouth: Ask friends, neighbors, and colleagues for recommendations. Personal experiences can be very telling and trustworthy.
– Awards and Recognitions: Companies that have received industry awards or recognitions often highlight these achievements on their websites. These accolades can be a good indicator of their service quality.
Insiders Secret: Look for specific details and personal experiences in genuine reviews; fake reviews often lack specifics and sound overly generic or exaggerated.
Dubai Housekeeping, for instance, has received numerous positive reviews from expats in the UAE, praising their professionalism, reliability, and excellent service.
3. Reliability of Service Delivery
Reliability is critical when it comes to housekeeping services. You want to ensure that the service provider you choose will consistently deliver high-quality services.
Tips to Ensure Reliability:
– Consistent Staff: It’s beneficial to have the same housekeeper(s) assigned to your home for each visit. This consistency allows the housekeeper to become familiar with your specific needs and preferences.
– Punctuality: Reliable companies ensure their staff arrives on time and completes their tasks within the agreed timeframe. Check reviews for any mentions of punctuality or delays.
– Service Guarantees: Some companies offer satisfaction guarantees or will rectify any issues if the service is not up to standard. This can provide peace of mind.
Insiders Secret: Look for comments in Reviews about punctuality.
Ask around in your community if others have used the service and what their experiences have been. Seeing a company’s vans or staff in your neighborhood regularly can be a good sign of their reliability and popularity.
4. Accessibility to Your Community
Accessibility is another critical factor. The housekeeping service provider should be able to easily access your community and adhere to any specific regulations or requirements.
Tips to Ensure Accessibility:
– Community Permits: Many prominent properties and communities in the UAE require service providers to have proper permission to enter. Check with your community’s management office about any such requirements.
– Local Presence: Choose a company that has a strong local presence in your area. This can reduce travel time and ensure that help is readily available when needed.
– Flexible Scheduling: Ensure the company can accommodate your schedule and frequency of visits. Flexibility is key to ensuring that your home is cleaned at your convenience.
Insiders Secret: Most buildings and communities issue access pass after submitting legal documents. If they can’t process access, that’s a red light.
Dubai Housekeeping has established relationships with many prominent communities in Dubai, ensuring that their staff can easily access and provide services without any hassle.
5. Fair Trade
Ensuring fair trade practices is essential not only for ethical reasons but also because it often correlates with the quality of service. Companies that treat their employees well are likely to have more motivated and efficient staff.
Tips to Ensure Fair Trade Practices:
– Fair Wages: Verify that the company pays fair wages to its employees. This information can sometimes be found on the company’s website or through customer reviews.
– Working Conditions: Good companies provide their staff with appropriate working conditions, including reasonable working hours and breaks.
– Transparent Pricing: Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. Extremely low prices can be a red flag indicating that the staff might be underpaid or overworked.
Insiders Secret: Lowest service rates? Who’s paying your discounts? Aggregator platforms are not held accountable by law, for worker well-being. So who is bearing the burden of the discount?
Dubai Housekeeping ensure that their staff are fairly compensated and work under good conditions, which is reflected in their positive work attitude and high-quality service.
Expert Advice on Housekeeping Services in the UAE
We understand that moving to a new country, especially one as dynamic as the UAE, comes with its unique set of challenges. One of the most significant adjustments is finding the right support system to manage your household needs.
To help you navigate this transition smoothly, we are excited to introduce our new Q&A series with Chris Camay, Manager at Dubai Housekeeping. Chris will share expert insights and practical advice on a variety of topics that haunt a new settler in UAE related to housekeeping services also known as maid or cleaning services. Whether you’re looking for tips on selecting the best service provider, maintaining a clean and organized home, or understanding the nuances of housekeeping in the UAE, this series is tailored just for you.
Why You Should Read and Follow This Series:
– Expert Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of Chris Camay, who has extensive experience in the housekeeping industry in Dubai.
– Practical Tips: Get actionable advice that you can apply immediately to improve the cleanliness and organization of your home.
– Relevant Topics: Each post will address real concerns and questions that expats in the UAE commonly face when hiring housekeeping services.
– Regular Updates: With new posts every week, you’ll always have fresh content to help you stay informed and make the best decisions for your household.
– Community Support: Join a community of expats who are also navigating similar challenges, and share your experiences and insights.
Stay tuned for our next post, where Chris will delve into the key considerations for selecting the right housekeeping service provider to fill the gap left by your support system back home.
Remember to bookmark this websites and check back regularly for the latest advice and tips. Your journey to a well-managed and stress-free home in the UAE starts here!
