The problem
A small company operating in a new market accumulates administration faster than it accumulates revenue. Documents to chase, suppliers to coordinate, invoices to reconcile, forms to complete, records to maintain in a format someone will eventually ask for. None of it is difficult. All of it takes time, and in a small team it lands on whoever is least able to say no, which is usually the person who should be selling.
What we take on
- Document handling. Preparation, collation, chasing, filing and retrieval. Including the attestation and legalisation chain where documents cross between the UK and UAE.
- Supplier and vendor liaison. Coordination, chasing, and resolution of the routine problems.
- Invoicing and reconciliation administration. The clerical side of billing and payment tracking, working alongside your accountant.
- Correspondence and scheduling. Handling routine communication in the local working week.
- Records and reporting. Keeping things in a state where an auditor, a bank or a regulator can be answered without a fortnight of archaeology.
- Local errands. The physical tasks that require somebody to be in the country.
What we do not do
We also do not act as an employer of record or a visa sponsor. Those are distinct regulated arrangements.
How it works in practice
- Scoping. We list what you actually need done, at what frequency. Usually this list is longer than the client expected, because much of it is invisible until written down.
- Handover. Access, systems, and the context we need. This takes a couple of weeks and is worth doing properly.
- Running. Defined tasks, defined turnaround times, a named contact.
- Reporting. Monthly, showing what was handled and anything that needs a decision from you.
Why a local provider rather than a remote VA
For purely digital tasks a remote assistant anywhere in the world may be perfectly adequate and cheaper. The case for a UAE-based provider is specific: tasks that require physical presence, dealings with UAE institutions that expect a local contact, working in the local week, and understanding how things actually get done here as opposed to how the process is documented.
If your requirement is genuinely all digital and time-zone independent, we will say so and you should use a cheaper option.
Fees
A monthly retainer against a defined scope and volume, quoted upfront. Where volume varies significantly month to month we agree a band and a rate for anything above it, so there are no surprises in either direction.
Whose side we are on
Al Hisn Partners acts for the client and only the client. We are retained by you, we take instructions from you, and our fee is paid by you.
Where we procure services or tools on your behalf, we pass them through at cost. We take no supplier margin and no rebate.
Common questions
Are you an accountancy firm?
No. We do not prepare statutory accounts, file returns or perform audit work. We handle the administrative and clerical layer beneath those functions and work alongside your accountant. If you do not have one we can introduce you to a licensed firm.
Can you sponsor visas or act as employer of record?
No. Those are distinct regulated arrangements which we do not provide. We can tell you who does.
Why not just hire a remote virtual assistant?
For purely digital, time-zone independent work, you probably should, and it will cost less. Our case is specific to tasks needing physical presence in the UAE, dealings with local institutions that expect a local contact, and working in the local week.
What is the minimum engagement?
We work on a monthly retainer with a defined scope. There is no long tie-in, but a month is rarely enough to get past handover, so three months is a more realistic starting point.
Can you handle our document attestation as part of this?
Yes. Consular and legalisation work is one of our core services, so document chains between the UK and UAE are handled in-house rather than subcontracted.
Who pays you, and do you ever take a fee from the other side?
Our client pays us, and only our client. We do not accept a fee, commission, rebate or referral payment from a counterparty, or from any agent, provider, supplier or institution we introduce or work alongside. If one is offered, we decline it. This applies across every service we provide, without exception.