Hiring a maid in the UAE? Here's what it will cost you

dubai - Lucky for you, full-time maid services are a practical and fairly affordable option in this part of the world

Wouldn't it be great to have an extra set of hands helping you out with household chores, preparing meals and caring for the little one? If you've decided that you want a maid, but are confused about how much it will cost you, now is a good time to start with the research. Whether you're looking for a full-time or part-time maid, the Souqalmal.com team helps breaks down the costs for you.

Are you looking for a full-time maid? Lucky for you, full-time maid services are a practical and fairly affordable option in this part of the world. These are the two ways to go about hiring a full-time maid:

Hiring and sponsoring a maid yourself
So, you want to take on the task of finding a live-in maid all by yourself? It's not a bad idea, considering how much you'll save on those finder's fees and agency charges. But it will take some time and effort too. You can start by browsing through related websites or simply ask your friends and colleagues for references. But be sure to do a thorough background and reference check if you go down this route.

Here's a quick look at the costs you'll have to bear when hiring and sponsoring a live-in maid:

. Salary: Monthly salaries may vary a lot from say, Dh1,500 to Dh3,500, and will depend on a number of factors such as experience, references, scope of work, etc. You will also have to comply with the minimum wage laws enforced by the embassy of the maid's home country.

. Sponsorship fees: You're the legal sponsor of your maid, and will have to apply for her UAE residence visa which will cost you between Dh5,000 to Dh5,500 annually. This is a non-refundable fee payable to the UAE government.

. Refundable deposit: The embassy of your maid's home country may also require a refundable security deposit of around Dh3,000 to Dh10,000. This may vary based on her nationality and the embassy rules prevailing at the time.

. Other government expenses: There will be separate charges for registration, medical tests and Emirates ID issuance.

. Health insurance: You will have to provide a health insurance cover for the maid, which is now a mandatory requirement for all sponsors.

. Flight ticket: You will also have to provide an annual return flight ticket to your maid.

. Basic living expenses: You will be responsible for providing her lodging at your house, food and basic amenities.

Hiring a maid through a registered agency
This is a very convenient, albeit relatively expensive way of hiring a full-time maid in Dubai. Various registered agencies in Dubai supply maids who they directly employ from their home country. You can go through their CVs and shortlist them based on phone interviews. Once you choose a maid, the agency will begin the immigration paperwork required to bring your maid into the UAE.

Your contract will specify the maid's salary which can range from Dh3,000 to Dh5,000 per month. You will also be charged a one-time agency fees, which can start from Dh5,000 and can go up to Dh15,000. This amount will include everything from the finder's fee, visa fee, health insurance, flight tickets, medical tests and Emirates ID fees.

When hiring a maid through agencies, you can also choose if you want a live-in or live-out maid. When opting for the latter, you will have to pay extra to compensate for the maid's accommodation, which will be handled by the agency. You have the flexibility to opt for short-term contracts for a few months as well.

.or would you prefer part-time help?
If you don't think you need full-time help around the house, you can also opt for part-time maid services. Hiring part-time maids through cleaning companies is pretty straightforward and you can find such service providers in abundance in Dubai.

Many companies even have websites that allow you to book cleaning and baby-sitting services online, or you can simply call their toll-free number to book a maid. Souqalmal.com suggests comparing prices before you take your pick. You can choose the frequency of services required (one-off, weekly, bi-weekly) and your preferred time slot. Prices usually range from Dh30 to Dh45 per hour.

Not all agencies provide maid services on Fridays, and those who do, usually charge a premium of Dh15 to Dh20 per hour on top of the regular hourly rate. A similar premium may apply if you request for maid services during afterhours, past 6pm.

Prices vary based on the number of hours you book the maid for, the size of your house and also whether you're using your own cleaning supplies and equipment or have the agency provide them.

The writer is the founder and CEO of souqalmal.com. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.