Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates

Last updated
Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates
Total population
679,819 [1]
Regions with significant populations
Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai
Languages
Tagalog or other languages of the Philippines, English, Arabic
Religion
Roman Catholicism or other Christian denominations, Islam
Related ethnic groups
Filipino people, Overseas Filipinos

Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates are migrants or descendants of the Filipinos living in the United Arab Emirates. 679,819 Filipinos live in the UAE, of which 450,000 live in Dubai, and they form 6.1% of the whole UAE population, and they form 21.3% of the population of Dubai. [2] Dubai is home to the largest population of Filipinos in the UAE, [3] followed by Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. [4] In 2007, Filipinos in the UAE sent more than US$500 million in remittances back to the Philippines. [5]

Contents

Filipino workers

Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates are primarily migrant overseas workers employed in the architecture, [6] construction, [7] cargo shipping [8] design engineering, [6] energy, [9] information technology, marketing, [6] medical, real estate, [6] retail, telecommunications, and tourism sectors or as domestic helpers. [6] The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment also has two Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in the UAE, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. [10] These offices, as well as agreements between the Filipino and UAE governments, have set the monthly minimum salary for OFW's at US$400. Because of the high number of Filipinos in the UAE, OFW's have called more direct flights from the UAE to the Philippines. [11]

Population decline

The global financial crisis of 2008–2009 took a toll on the working Filipino population in the United Arab Emirates, with 3,000 Filipino workers losing their jobs in December 2008 alone. [6] The overall population shrank by 20% at the end of 2008 as compared to the end of 2007. [2] The Embassy of the Philippines in the UAE asked laid-off Filipinos to register, because of the possibility of job openings in nearby Qatar. [7] However, the decline could also be attributed to new visa and passport requirements that the government of the UAE instituted midway through 2008, [12] [13] affecting up to 20,000 Filipinos. [14] Those with expired visas were stranded on the Iranian island of Kish, and at Al Buraimi, Oman near the Oman/UAE border. [15] 300 Filipinos had fled to the Philippines because of the stranded Filipinos and 65 Filipinos received tickets free from the Consulate of the Philippines. In 2024, they constitute 6.8% of the UAE’s total population, which means approximately 700,000 individuals. Among them, around 450,000 Filipinos reside in Dubai alone, representing roughly 21.3% of the emirate’s total population. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the United Arab Emirates</span>

The United Arab Emirates is a country in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula located on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman. The UAE consists of seven emirates and was founded on 2 December 1971 as a federation, after UK armed forces left the region. Six of the seven emirates declared their union on 2 December 1971. The seventh, Ras al Khaimah, joined the federation on 10 February 1972. The seven sheikdoms were formerly known as the Trucial States, in reference to the truce treaties established with the British in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of the United Arab Emirates</span>

Demographic features of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) include population density, vital statistics, immigration and emigration data, ethnicity, education levels, religions practiced, and languages spoken within the UAE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of the United Arab Emirates</span>

The United Arab Emirates is a high-income developing market economy. The UAE's economy is the 4th largest in the Middle East, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$415 billion in 2021-2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Arab Emirates</span> Country in West Asia

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal, elective monarchy composed of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi as its capital. It shares land borders with Oman to the east and northeast, and with Saudi Arabia to the southwest; as well as maritime borders in the Persian Gulf with Qatar and Iran, and with Oman in the Gulf of Oman. As of 2024, the UAE has an estimated population of over 10 million, of which 11% are Emiratis; Dubai is the most populous city and is an international hub. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language, while English is the most spoken language and the language of business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overseas Filipinos</span> Filipino diaspora

An overseas Filipino is a person of full or partial Filipino origin who trace their ancestry back to the Philippines but are living and working outside of the country. They get jobs in countries, and they move to live in countries that they get jobs in, or if they want to migrate to somewhere else, This term generally applies to both people of Filipino ancestry and citizens abroad. As of 2019, there were over 15 million Filipinos overseas.

According to Human Rights Watch, there is substantial discrimination against women in the United Arab Emirates. The status of women has improved over the years. UAE performs better on metrics of gender equality than many other states in the Gulf region, and it has been making reforms to protect women's rights and empower women in different sectors. Critics describe some of these reforms as window dressing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filipinos in Saudi Arabia</span> Ethnic group

Filipinos in Saudi Arabia are migrants or descendants of the Philippines who live in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is currently the largest employer of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and has the largest Filipino population in the Middle East. Filipinos make up the fourth-largest group of foreigners in Saudi Arabia, and are the second-largest source of remittances to the Philippines.

Filipinos in Qatar are either migrants or descendants of the Philippines living in Qatar. Around 260,000 Filipinos live in Qatar, and frequently work in construction and service jobs. As of early 2017, Filipinos are estimated to be the fourth-largest group of foreign workers in Qatar, after Indians, Nepalis and Bangladeshis. With 56,277 Filipinos arriving between January and November 2008, Qatar is the third-largest destination of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW's) in the Middle East after the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and also the fourth-largest destination of OFW's worldwide. Despite this, and the removal of the Philippines from the pandemic-related travel-restriction "Red List" in August, 2022, Philippine nationals are unable to apply for Qatar tourist visas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of the United Arab Emirates</span>

The culture of the United Arab Emirates is part of the culture of Eastern Arabia. Its historical population was a small tribal community that changed with the arrival of an influx of foreign nationals in the mid-20th century. Emirati culture is a blend of Arabian, Islamic, and Persian cultures, with influences from the cultures of East Africa and Indian Subcontinent. Islam has had a prominent influence on local architecture, music, attire, cuisine, and lifestyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Philippine School, Dubai</span> Educational institution school in United Arab Emirates

The Philippine School or known in abbreviation as TPS is a school in Dubai catering for Filipinos, covering grade levels from kindergarten through the 12th grade. The Philippine School was established in February 2008 and opened its first academic year on September the following year. In 2010, it relocated to Al Rashidiya and then in Academic Year 2016–2017, It moved to its current campus in Al Muhaisnah. Today, the students of the TPS had brought honor to the school by participating in academic competitions, contests and inter-school activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bilateral ties exist between Australia and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE maintains an embassy in Canberra whilst Australia has an embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate-general in Dubai.

There are thousands of Jordanians living in the United Arab Emirates. As of 2009, their population was estimated at 250,000, an increase from 80,000 in 2003, making them one of the largest Jordanian diaspora communities both worldwide and in the Persian Gulf region and also form the second-largest community of non-citizen Arabs in the UAE after the Egyptians. Most Jordanians live in Dubai and the capital, Abu Dhabi.

Expatriates in the United Arab Emirates represent about 88% of the population, while Emiratis constitute roughly 12% of the total population, making the UAE home to one of the world's highest percentage of expatriates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of the United Arab Emirates</span> Policy on permits required to enter the United Arab Emirates

The visa policy of the United Arab Emirates allows citizens of certain countries to enter the United Arab Emirates without a visa. Citizens of certain other countries must obtain a visa from one of the UAE diplomatic missions. Alternatively, they may obtain an online visa through Smart Service or airlines.

The Embassy of Canada to the United Arab Emirates is Canada's diplomatic mission to the United Arab Emirates. The embassy is located on the 9th and 10th floors of the West Tower of the Abu Dhabi Trade Center, next to Abu Dhabi Mall.

Migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates describe the foreign workers who have moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for work. As a result of the proximity of the UAE to South Asia and a better economy and job opportunities, most of the migrant foreign workers are from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines and Pakistan.

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The first confirmed case in the United Arab Emirates was announced on 29 January 2020. It was the first country in the Middle East to report a confirmed case.

Overseas Filipinos, including Filipino migrant workers outside the Philippines, have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 1, 2021, there have been 19,765 confirmed COVID-19 cases of Filipino citizens residing outside the Philippines with 12,037 recoveries and 1,194 deaths. The official count from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the cases of overseas Filipinos is not included in the national tally of the Philippine government. Repatriates on the other hand are included in the national tally of the Department of Health (DOH) but are listed separately from regional counts.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the national and local governments of the Philippines have coordinated numerous international and domestic evacuations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in the United Arab Emirates</span>

Tourism in the United Arab Emirates is an important part of the Emirati economy. In 2023, the tourism sector employed 809,300 people and contributed 220 billion dirham to the national gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for 12% of it. In 2024, the UAE was the 6th destination globally by international tourism receipts according to the World Tourism rankings, and it ranked 18th globally in the Travel and Tourism Development Index.

References

  1. ↑ "Know Your Diaspora: United Arab Emirates — Positively Filipino | Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora". Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
  2. 1 2 Muslim, Nina (December 2008). "Filipino population in UAE dwindling amid high costs". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 2009-03-01. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  3. ↑ Franco, Jose (2008-01-28). "Every OFW is Philippine envoy to UAE: Arroyo". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  4. ↑ Ruiz, Ramona (2009-02-05). "Manila blocks 50 Filipinos from working in UAE on tourist visas". The National. Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  5. ↑ "PGMA's Speech before the Filipino Community in Dubai". ops.gov.ph. 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2009-02-15.[ dead link ]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Wadi Jobs Dubai: Global Crisis Robs Filipinos of 3,000 Jobs in UAE". Free Press Release. 2008-12-18. Archived from the original on 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  7. 1 2 "Qatar Likely Destination for Filipinos Retrenched in UAE". Al Habibi. 2009-01-24. Archived from the original on 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  8. ↑ "Apply United Arab Emirates visa". DOLE News. 2019-08-26. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  9. ↑ "Apply United Arab Emirates visa". Al Habibi. August 2019. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  10. ↑ "DOLE to put up 4 new labor offices abroad". gov.ph. 2007-09-16. Archived from the original on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  11. ↑ "OFWs in Dubai calls for more direct flight services". DOLE News. 2003-02-19. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  12. ↑ Saberi, Mahmood (2008-07-24). "Hundreds in UAE visa run business look elsewhere". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  13. ↑ "DOLE advises OFWs on UAE rules concerning passports". DOLE News. 2008-08-26. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  14. ↑ "JINGGOY URGES GOV'T: "HELP 20,000 FILIPINOS..."". senate.gov.ph. 2007-07-22. Archived from the original on 2018-12-30. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  15. ↑ Baylon, Gloria Jane (2008-09-26). "1,000 Filipinos with expired UAE visas stranded". Balita.ph. Retrieved 2009-02-15.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. ↑ Sambidge, Andy (2024-05-07). "Philippines is next stage of UAE's Asean trade push". AGBI. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
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