In this episode, Ben W speaks with Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet Household, about how the recent Iran war has disrupted luxury household staffing across the Middle East.

Morgan shares insights from his three and a half years living in Dubai and running M&M's regional office during this challenging period.

Morgan explains how M&M adapted when expat clients fled Dubai while local families continued hiring.

He discusses the travel restrictions that made it nearly impossible to move European and American candidates to the region, forcing the agency to temporarily close their Dubai office and allow remote work.

Key take aways:

• Household staffing demand from wealthy local families remains stable even during regional conflicts, while expat clients typically pause hiring and relocate temporarily.

• European and American household staff now command higher salaries in Middle Eastern markets due to perceived risk and reduced candidate supply.

• International staffing agencies benefit from geographic diversification, allowing them to shift focus between markets when regional disruptions occur.

• Dubai serves as the central hub for Middle Eastern household staffing because most regional business owners maintain offices there regardless of their home country.

• Chef positions experienced unexpected growth in demand during the Iran conflict, while butler and housekeeper requests remained steady.

If you're considering international household staff placement, our guide on taking household staff abroad covers essential legal requirements.

For insights on working with wealthy families in challenging environments, our comprehensive resource explains what to expect.

Episode link: https://www.householdstaff.agency/podcast/iran-war-impact-luxury-staffing

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morgan-mallet-international

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorganAndMallet/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgan_mallet/