Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates

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]

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

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.

See also

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. 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.
  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. "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. 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.
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