299 returning Filipinos arrive in Manila from Dubai

Kevin Morilla and his family are among the repatriated Filipinos who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 5, 2026. DMW

A total of 299 Filipinos safely returned to the Philippines on Thursday (March 5), arriving in Manila from Dubai on an Emirates flight. The group landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Emirates flight 336 from Dubai. According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the group included 23 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and two children of OFWs who were assisted by the government during their return. Many of the returning Filipinos, including stranded individuals, travelled home for safety reasons as Middle East tensions intensified, while others had completed their employment contracts or decided to return to the Philippines permanently, according to the DMW. Officials from the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welcomed the returnees at the airport and assured them of government support. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the government was grateful that the Filipinos had arrived safely. He also thanked the UAE authorities and host countries in the Middle East for ensuring the safety of Filipinos living and working in the region. “We thank the UAE government, the local government of Dubai for . Also, to the government of host countries involved in this crisis for their safety protocols and defense system in place,” he said. Among those returning was Kevin Morilla, an operations manager at an oil and gas company in the Middle East. Morilla travelled home with his wife, their two children, and other family members. He had earlier been allowed by his employer to temporarily work from home for safety reasons amid the conflict. The family planned to travel onward to Iloilo after arriving in Manila. Government agencies provided immediate assistance to the returnees, including financial aid from the DMW AKSYON Fund, temporary accommodation and transport from OWWA, medical support from the Department of Health, and psychosocial services from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Authorities said assistance for Filipinos affected by the conflict will continue as directed by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Filipinos in UAE say they feel safe

As regional tensions continue to make international headlines, many Filipinos living and working in the UAE say their daily routines remain largely unchanged, with most describing life in the country as calm and stable. For many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the biggest reaction has come not from what they see around them, but from messages they receive from family and friends abroad who are worried after seeing reports on international news and social media. A. Destrajo (full name withheld), a restaurant worker in Dubai who has lived in the UAE for more than a decade, said relatives in the Philippines recently called to ask if she was safe. “They saw videos online and asked if something was happening here. I told them everything is normal. I went to work like usual,” she told Expat Media. Other Filipinos shared similar experiences, saying their families sometimes become alarmed after seeing online posts, particularly videos that circulate quickly on social media. C. Ramirez, an IT professional in Abu Dhabi, said he reassured his family that daily life continues as usual. “My parents were worried because they saw some videos online. They sent me a video of missiles over Burj Khalifa. I told them it's a fake video. Here, people are going to work, malls are open, and life is normal,” he said. The UAE has continued to emphasize public safety and the importance of verifying information before sharing it online. Authorities have also warned residents against spreading rumors or unverified content that could cause unnecessary alarm. For many Filipinos in the UAE, the focus remains on work and supporting their families back home. “We understand why our families worry,” Destrajo said. “But here in the UAE, things are calm. We are just continuing with our normal lives.” The UAE is home to hundreds of thousands of Filipino expatriates working in sectors ranging from healthcare and hospitality to aviation and retail. ICA/CAM/Expat Media

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