Single dad at EK
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 24
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From: The world is my Playground
Single dad at EK
A question for the EK pilot group.
Due to personal circumstances with my ex I'm looking to get my 4 year old son to come and live with me in Dubai.
Being a single pilot with the work schedule that we have, this creates a great deal of issues to tackle before I even get him here.
Without going into too much detail, I was hoping to find a colleague who has a similar experience. If not to provide me with all the answers as much as just to have a chat and a few good pointers in the right direction.
Your help is highly appreciated.
(PM's are fine considering the personal nature of this topic)
Due to personal circumstances with my ex I'm looking to get my 4 year old son to come and live with me in Dubai.
Being a single pilot with the work schedule that we have, this creates a great deal of issues to tackle before I even get him here.
Without going into too much detail, I was hoping to find a colleague who has a similar experience. If not to provide me with all the answers as much as just to have a chat and a few good pointers in the right direction.
Your help is highly appreciated.
(PM's are fine considering the personal nature of this topic)
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 161
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From: Midlands
Hi Max.
When you get in first thing you need to do is get yourself a fillipperino who will assist by looking after Junior and doing the polishing and hoovering.
Life is good here, just ask the lads at DSO where wives are traded in on a regular basis for the above models which are far more utilitarian. Many guys come here and immediately offload their tired old western bags but you're already a step ahead of the game.
If you can handle the funny accent you are definitely making the right lifestyle choice, Sirmamm. And they cook too - if you like fried everything you will be in bliss. You can't go wrong.
When you get in first thing you need to do is get yourself a fillipperino who will assist by looking after Junior and doing the polishing and hoovering.
Life is good here, just ask the lads at DSO where wives are traded in on a regular basis for the above models which are far more utilitarian. Many guys come here and immediately offload their tired old western bags but you're already a step ahead of the game.
If you can handle the funny accent you are definitely making the right lifestyle choice, Sirmamm. And they cook too - if you like fried everything you will be in bliss. You can't go wrong.
Unless of course you hire a live-in guy not girl...
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 2
From: UAE
You can't sponsor a maid as a single male but there are ways around this. These methods are well known and generally tolerated by the authorities but aren't exactly legal. It's a Dubai thing, you will get used to it.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 329
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From: Blingland
I am divorced, and have a maid. So not true you can't. I verified the legality of this with the Immigration dept at EGHQ.
Single, never been married, no you can't have a female maid.
Also, I know of one colleague whose wife sadly passed away, leaving him with a young child, also employs a full time female nanny. Not from Mamsirrr land.
SyB
Single, never been married, no you can't have a female maid.
Also, I know of one colleague whose wife sadly passed away, leaving him with a young child, also employs a full time female nanny. Not from Mamsirrr land.
SyB
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 5
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From: UAE
I'm reasonably new to the region but I do know of an old EK mate who had a full-time live-in maid help him with his kids. Max, you're probably best off approaching one of those "Nannies Abroad" agencies in the Philippines.
Good luck feller.
Good luck feller.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,103
Likes: 5
From: Chabanais, France
Blue Max
Having had both working for me I would go for a Sri Lankan maid rather than a Filipino - assuming it is a real maid you want and not one like the girl in Farrel's post #5! 
(who looks remarkably Eurasian to me!).
(who looks remarkably Eurasian to me!).
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 89
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From: Dubai
Your main issue is going to be getting permission for your son to come. If you've already provided the divorce papers, you will have to have papers provided from your ex wife, court approved, granting your son her approval to live her. Otherwise they will not provide the VISA required to have your son here.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 189
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From: Hotels
Employed 2 Sri Lankan maids and 2 Filipinas, in my experience I would definitely go for a Filipina. Bottom line though is interview, get references and realise you are employing someone to trust with your kids. Alternatively go for the nail girl and get headache money put in the contract!
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 24
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From: The world is my Playground
The responses are equally entertaining as appreciated guys.
I've been living in Dubai for the last four years, so reasonably familiar with the nanny/maid facilities. I'd prefer to go the au-pair route so as to have someone looking after my son speaking his mother tongue.
In reply to your message Fred Garvin, we were never married. Which is either going to make things a lot easier or more complicated. Still waiting on the reply from visa services on that one.
As stated before my, I'd like to get into contact with other singel dad's in the flight deck community
I've been living in Dubai for the last four years, so reasonably familiar with the nanny/maid facilities. I'd prefer to go the au-pair route so as to have someone looking after my son speaking his mother tongue.
In reply to your message Fred Garvin, we were never married. Which is either going to make things a lot easier or more complicated. Still waiting on the reply from visa services on that one.
As stated before my, I'd like to get into contact with other singel dad's in the flight deck community