Life in the UAE is full-on work, kids, and maybe trying to grab a quick coffee with friends. Keeping your house clean on top of all that? It’s a lot. That’s why maids in UAE are such a big help, making your home neat so you can chill a bit. But what do they actually do, and what might add to the bill? Here’s an easy guide, like we’re chatting over some dates and tea, to help you know what’s included and what’s extra in 2025.

Why Maids Make Life Easier

In the UAE’s busy world, maids are like your backup team. Whether you’re juggling school runs or long workdays, they take care of the cleaning so you can come home to a tidy place. Figuring out what they do—and what might cost more—helps you pick the right maid without any surprises.

What Do Maids Usually Do?

They do a lot of everyday things to keep things clean and tidy in your home. Below are the standard cleaning tasks performed by most maids: 

• Cleaning Dust: Dust is everywhere in the air in the UAE so things can get dirty, even the shelves on which your statues and decorative items are placed. The maids wipe down everything, thereby cleaning it.

• Cleaning Floors: They sweep and mop tiles, carpets, or whatever you’ve got, so your floors don’t have that sandy mess.

• Cleaning the Kitchen: Maids clean counters, sinks, and things like your fridge; they might even wash dishes too, so your kitchen is ready to make hummus or throw together a quick dinner.

• Cleaning Bathrooms: They scrub toilets, showers, sinks and other surfaces to keep the bathroom fresh especially in this sticky weather in the UAE.

• Cleaning Bedrooms: They make beds, fluff pillows, and pick up toys or clothes, etc., your kids may have left lying around.

• Taking out the Trash: Maids empty trash bins and dispose of waste so your house is clean and doesn’t smell after a big family lunch.

• Sorting Small Stuff: They might fix up a messy shelf or tidy a cupboard to make your place feel less cluttered.

These are the basics most maids in UAE do, whether they come a few hours a week or every day. If you hire through a website or agency, this stuff is usually part of the deal—think AED 30-50 an hour for part-time maids or AED 1,500-4,500 a month for full-time ones, depending on their skills.

What Might Cost More?

Some jobs aren’t part of the regular cleaning and could mean paying extra. Here’s what might bump up the cost when you hire maids in UAE:

• Major Cleaning Projects: If it’s cleaning the inside of the oven, washing the windows, or moving furniture to clean under it, it might not cost much, and if they said they’ll take care of it, you may find yourself adding AED 15-20 an hour.

• Cooking: If you want your maid to make meals for you. If you expected them to make a pot of rice or if you wanted them to make a dessert. All those tasks are typically additional. At a minimum, money for those may be AED 50 an hour, and more if they are used to cooking.

• Childcare: If you are looking for your maid to babysit your kids or help the kids with their homework, it is not a generic part of the job description for your maid. If your maid does any of those things, it may be an additional cost to you—think AED 40-60 an hour.

• Laundry and Ironing: The maid will typically wash and fold but ironing anything, like shirts or dresses, could cost more, especially for part-time maids.

• Party Planning: Cleaning for special occasions like an Eid dinner or a themed birthday party may mean additional hours, a higher rate, maybe AED 50-60 an hour.

• Night and Weekend Shifts: If you want a maid to come extremely early, or late at night, or on Fridays, I have seen some rates cost more, around AED 15-20 an hour.

For full-time maids, you might also need to pay for things like their visa (AED 5,000-8,500 every two years), health insurance (AED 700-1,500 a year), or a flight home every couple of years (AED 2,000-4,000). Live-in maids might need food and a bed, while live-out maids don’t.

How to Keep It Clear

To avoid any mix-ups with maids in UAE, try these tips:

• Chat First: Tell your maid or agency what you want—cleaning only or extras like cooking. This keeps the bill clear.

• Read the Deal: If you use an agency, check what’s covered in the price. Some include supplies or insurance; some don’t.

• Ask About Extras: If you need special jobs, like cleaning for a holiday, ask how much it’ll cost upfront.

• Start Easy: Try a maid for a few hours a week to see what fits before hiring someone full-time.

Wrapping It Up

Getting maids in UAE is a great idea if you want to have a clean home without the bother. Most maids will be able to manage things like dusting, mopping, and tidying, although they may charge more for things like cooking or kid-watching. Be clear with the maid or agency what you want them to do, what comes with that fee and any additional work you may want extra. Even if you just want a maid for a short, quick clean or you have a big family coming around for a meal, a maid makes life easier so you can get on with your day—maybe with a cup of tea!