Need your bike repaired, oven cleaned or an unusual gift idea? Look to these offbeat home services
If your phone is not groaning under the weight of an array of food delivery, supermarket and other shopping apps, can you even call yourself a UAE resident? Convenience has always been a buzzword in this part of the world, one that has been elevated to an art form, thanks to the choice and quality of services provided.
But although expediency has always been part and parcel of UAE life, the pandemic has meant that even more products and experiences are available at the click of a button. Here are some of the most unusual to order from the comfort of your sofa.
Aquarium maintenance
Aquariums are beautiful and calming things to have around you, but they also require constant upkeep to ensure your aquatic friends are happy and healthy.
Petzone offers a customisable aquarium cleaning and maintenance service, whereby members of the team come to your home to advise on everything from algae issues to the health of your fish.
They will even landscape your fish tank with plants, pebbles and caves, ensuring you have the most Instagrammable aquarium in the UAE (The Dubai Mall’s notwithstanding).
Dh263 for a single clean and Dh3,150 for an annual contract; available in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; www.petzone.com
Bike repairs
With cycling one of the most popular pastimes in the UAE, thanks to kilometres of tracks and incredible desert views, bike repair and maintenance is much in demand. But it can be a hassle to cart your bike to the shop if something goes wrong.
That’s where Adam’s bike service comes in. With a fully kitted-out workshop in his van, the eponymous repairman comes to your house to fix everything from punctures to brakes.
Price subject to services; only in Dubai; 050 995 8288
Indoor plant care
Even if your outdoor plants are being well looked after by a gardener, spare a thought for the care of those growing indoors. These are often a lot more temperamental than their hardier outdoorsy cousins, not to mention more pricey, so it’s worth paying attention to their upkeep. This where Plantscapes comes in.
The company will pay weekly visits to your home to water, fertilise, clean and trim indoor foliage, and will revive or replace plants that show signs of decline.
Price subject to services; in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; www.plantscapes.ae
Oven cleaning
There are certain kitchen appliances that everyone would rather avoid having to clean. Behind the fridge, inside the toaster and, of course, the oven. But as with most things in the UAE, you can outsource this cumbersome chore to the cleaning experts. Oven King UAE promises to give your greasy and food-encrusted appliance a sparkling new lease of life.
Photo framing
There’s a meme that states: “The time between taking a photo and then getting it framed is approximately 57 years” – a statement that anyone with photos stacking up on their phone can agree with.
However, at draft frames, you simply upload your photos, choose the frame you want, and it will be delivered to your door in a few days. There are also collage, canvas and mini frame options.
From Dh115; in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, www.draftframes.com
Singing telegram
We’ve all experienced that moment when a birthday is looming and you’ve forgotten to get a gift or have been racking your brain for a present that’s out of the ordinary. Step forward The Big Moo’s singing telegram service, which has a singer serenading the birthday boy or girl at their doorstep in a costume of the gifter’s choice. Price subject to services; in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; www.thebigmoouae.com