Personal Assistant & Household Management in Emirates Hills

Estates, not apartments

Because so many villas here are custom builds, no two houses work the same way. One has a basement cinema and a staff wing; another has a large landscaped garden that drops to the golf course, with its own irrigation system. The first thing I do in any Emirates Hills home is walk the property and write down how it actually runs: the plant rooms, the pool, the security system, the staff routines and who to call for each.

Running a household team

In a larger household the hard part is rarely the work itself. It is the coordination: who is on shift, who covers holidays, who checks that the gardener's contractor actually came, and who notices that the pool is cloudy before guests arrive. I supervise the day-to-day schedule and act as the single contact between the family and the staff.

• Weekly staff rotas, leave planning and cover for holidays
• Clear written routines for housekeeping, laundry and guest preparation
• Coordination with licensed agencies when a new staff member is needed
• Vendor and contractor supervision on site
• Monthly household inventory: linen, cleaning supplies, pantry and wine

Community rules and renovations

Emirates Hills is an Emaar community, and changes to a villa's exterior, extensions and major works usually need community approval before contractors start. Working inside a gated community also means contractor passes, working hours and site conditions that security checks. I prepare the paperwork with your contractor, keep the timeline realistic and make sure neighbours are not disturbed.

Security, privacy and guests

Entry is controlled at the gates, so every visitor, driver and delivery should be expected. For events I send guest lists to security ahead of time, brief your staff on arrival and parking, and arrange valet where the driveway will not hold every car. Privacy matters here more than anywhere: staff briefings, NDAs where you want them, and no photographs of the home shared with suppliers.

Schools and services nearby

Emirates Hills sits beside The Springs, The Meadows and The Lakes, so many everyday services are only minutes away. Families here often use schools such as Dubai British School Emirates Hills and Emirates International School Meadows, and I plan school runs, pickups and after-school activities around the staff and driver schedule. For golf, the Montgomerie is on the doorstep, and Emirates Golf Club is a short drive.