Best job in the world? Luxury Maldives resort Soneva Fushi hiring a 'barefoot bookseller'


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

If you’ve ever considered quitting your job and disappearing to a desert island for a year, now could be the perfect time.

Luxury Maldives resort Soneva Fushi, famed for its overwater villas with slides directly into the ocean, is advertising for “possibly the best job in the world".

The hunt is on for a “barefoot bookseller” to run its island shop for 12 months.

“While most of us find holidays are the only opportunity we get to read for pleasure, finding the perfect book to enhance your destination and open your mind can be a challenge,” the job advert states.

“Previous barefoot booksellers have provided guests with unforgettable literary experiences from writer’s workshops to personal reading consultations. We are interested to see what new ideas you can bring to the role.

“The ideal candidate will be a team player with a passion for books and the ability to engage with guests of all ages. They will have excellent written and verbal English skills; a lively tone of voice to write an entertaining blog capturing the exhilarating life of a desert island bookseller and the skills to host workshops and other guest experiences. They must have the ability to fit in with the distinctive Soneva culture.”

The placement will start in October and require the successful candidate to hold workshops and pop-up events, such as creative writing courses for guests.

The initiative was first launched in 2018 in collaboration with Ultimate Library. The new candidate will take over from Georgie Polhill, an experienced bookseller who previously worked in the editorial department of a London publishers before flying to the Maldives.

Among her highlights of her time on Soneva Fushi was interviewing actor Stanley Tucci ahead of a screening of one of his films at the resort’s outdoor cinema.

Writing about the experience in a blogpost, Polhill said: "The best thing about working as Soneva Fushi’s barefoot bookseller is the unpredictability; you never know what adventures a new week will bring.”

Soneva Fushi is a popular resort for celebrities, with a number of A-list stars visiting, including John Legend and Chrissy Teigen and actor Ed Westwick. It is also the resort where Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas spent their honeymoon.

Interested candidates can learn more and apply via the Barefoot Bookseller website.

How to turn your property into a holiday home
  1. Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
  2. Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
  3. Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
  4. Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
  5. Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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RESULT

Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)

Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)

Company profile

Name: Oulo.com

Founder: Kamal Nazha

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2020

Number of employees: 5

Sector: Technology

Funding: $450,000

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

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Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets

Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Updated: July 27, 2022, 8:31 AM