May I Help You?

The level of service that you get here is definitely above what you would expect in any Western country. Probably because there is such a vast divide between the middle class and the poor. There are literally over 1,000,000 poor people here from countries such as India, Pakistan, Phillipines, Sri Lanka, etc. Each of these folks is happy to make the equivalent of $100/day (350 AED). Some make more, but many make less. As a result, there is a huge population of people in service jobs - and the cost to employ them is minimal. As a consumer, most of these services are "free" - it is included in the cost of what you are already paying for. You can tip, but it isn't expected.

For example:
1. Any restaurant or fast food place (including McDonald's or Burger King) will deliver to you at no additional cost. At lunch time, there are motorbikes cruising all over the city delivering Subway sandwiches or Big Mac meals to an office. They ask your order to be about $5, but will deliver a smaller order anyway.

2. Any grocery store will deliver. I heard someone say that they called and ordered 3 Cokes to have them delivered. Personally, that sounds a bit indulgent to me.

3. At the malls and grocery stores there are men pushing trolleys/carts around (resembling a housekeeper's trolley at a hotel) to wash you car for AED10 (about $2.50). When you get out of your car, they will come over to ask you if you'd like to have your car washed. You pay them AED10 and when you come out of the shop, it's done. Given how dusty it is in this country and the fact that you can be ticketed for having a dirty car - this is a great service!

4. All petrol/gas stations are full service. The guy will pump your petrol, wash your windows, and even run into the forecourt to get you a soda, water, or snack if you'd like. Odd note, all petrol stations are "one way". In other words, they want all cars facing the same direction when pulling up to the pumps. There is a definite advantage to having a car with the gas cap on the right, because there are just a lot fewer cars built that way here and there's always a wait for the pumps for gas caps on the left.

5. All stores have shop assistants in every aisle. Many have indicated that they will often get a shop assistant following them around the shop standing about 1-2 feet away. That would get very annoying to me! However, with that many shop assistants, you are always being asked if you need some help when you are browsing.

6. All grocery stores have a bagger at the check out lane and someone who will take you groceries out to the car for you. In the US, sometimes you can still get this service, but here it is expected that the shop will have this service for you.

7. Live in help is available for about $250/month. Housemaids will ususally do cooking, cleaning, child care, and pet care. If you're lucky, some of them can drive and will also run errands, do the grocery shopping, and pick up the kids from school. Houseboys will do the gardening, take care of maintenance, clean the pool, and other odd jobs. Drivers will take care of the cars, drive you or your kids around town, run errands, and do odd jobs. I have heard some people hire live in help for only room & meals, but that is actually illegal. But there are so many people desparate for good housing that they will take the job.

8. Dry cleaning is picked up and dropped off at your house. Everything is a 24 hour turn around.

9. The curtain guy will come out to your house with swatches of fabric, measure your windows, you choose your style and he will come back in 2 days to hang the curtains in your house. Russell's going to LOVE that. We've lived without curtains in much of our house for nearly 6 years now.

10. The tailor will come out to your house, measure your trousers, shorten them and have them back to you within 24 hours.