 A life serving the privileged
Wednesday 11 Apr, 2007
If you think the notion of a butler went out the window as long ago as flared trousers, then think again! Magnums, a provider of professionally rained staff for the service industry, have been eyeing up Dubai for a while now and come this October, they plan to open the doors to their every own training institute right here in the UAE. 7DAYS caught up with Magnums founder Josephine Ive (pictured right) to find out a bit more about what being a 'butler' involves.
 What is a butler?
A butler is a professional who will look after every need, whether it is in a household or in a hotel. These people are well-groomed, immaculate looking and are really well trained to anticipate what exactly an employer may want or be looking for. In effect they are mini-managers, looking after the clothes, food and beverage and any other situations that they find themselves in. Being a nanny and gardener are probably the two areas which fall out of a butler’s jurisdiction.
Why does a wealthy person require a butler?
A lot of people ask me this question and I reckon the best answer I can give is that if you start to consider what you would prefer not to be doing to increase the quality of your life, then that's why you need a butler. If you question why you are making your own cup of coffee or sorting out your own laundry or anything else that may be considered a chore or diminishing the quality of your life, then that is a good reason to get a butler.
So it's a luxury?
It’s a luxury to some and a necessity to others. When you look at any of the royal families who have had a butler, they could never live without them. It's just part of their life to have a butler, particularly say someone like Prince Charles who changes his clothes at least five times a day; he needs a butler to stay organised. It's also a necessity when you have a professional couple, who both have high-profile and demanding jobs.
So what is the difference between a butler and the typical 'housemaid'?
I think with a butler you're looking at someone who can manage you completely. Who has that bit more maturity, not necessarily in age, but in knowledge and experience. Someone who can really take on board everything you need in your daily life.
Will a butler in Dubai get the same low salary as a housemaid?
I think people that may want a butler will want to go that next notch up as far as a professionally run household is concerned, and the price you will pay will be equal to that.
What type of nationalities do you predict Dubai Butlers will be?
Filipinos, Jordanians, Indians and Pakistanis. There will be some who naturally flow into the butler environment, while others may take a little longer to mature into the butler role. It is probably not likely that Europeans will come down here, unless they are going to be paid the equivalent of salaries in Europe. I imagine a lot of people in the region who are ready working in food and beverage or hotels and want a career change will look at being a butler.
How relevant are butlers in today's society?
Butlers are more relevant than ever. People nowadays lead much busier lives and have larger houses. I don’t see how some households can exist without a butler to run it.
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