Over 300 more Filipinos repatriated from UAE amid Middle East conflict

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The third batch of Filipino repatriates processed by the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai departed this city early Friday morning (local time), many of whom will be seeking a fresh start back home as the country grapples with the impact of the Middle East conflict.

The 342 Filipino repatriates rode 11 buses that took them to the Sharjah International Airport (SIA), where they later boarded a chartered TVR 4737 at 3 a.m. (Dubai time) en route to Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, Metro Manila. They were scheduled to arrive in the Philippines on late Friday morning (Manila time).

Among them is a diabetic who recently had her left foot amputated; a 78-year-old mother who was in this city to celebrate her birthday with her children the day the conflict erupted; and others on visit visas who had opted to come home because they did not find jobs.

"There were 221 OFWs, 80 dependents including nine infants, and some tourists," Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista, who heads MWO in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, told GMA News Online.

He said the MWO paid for the chartered flight. 

"Wala pong babayaran ang ating mga pasahero, sagot po ng gobyerno," Bautista said. 

(The repatriates won't have to pay anything, the government will shoulder the cost.)

Filipinos wait in a school gym in Dubai prior to their repatriation to the Philippines on Friday, March 27, 2026. JOJO DASS

"Sa atin pong mga kababayan na naaapektuhan ng mga pangyayari ngayon, kung kaya po ay nagnanais na umuwi na ng Pilipinas, lumapit lamang pa sa MWO," he added.

(Filipinos affected by what is happening now and would want to go home in the Philippines, may just visit MWO.)

He said those who went home can come back provided the UAE government does not object to it.

Clearance

The MWO conducts checks on those who want to go back to the Philippines. Applicants are required to obtain police clearances prior to processing for repatriation.

Bautista said some Filipinos were found to have outstanding travel bans or cases related to bank loans. He said MWO's Assistance to Nationals (ATN) section may help straighten things out for them.

"Ang aming payo sa kanila ay lumapit sa MWO para po sa maitutulong na legal para maayos ang problema. Saka na po sila lumapit sa amin kapag wala na silang travel ban o kaso. Tutulugan namin sila para makauwi," said Bautista.

(Our advice is that they come to us so we could legally help with their problem. And then, we will work on their repatriation if they no longer have a travel ban or case. We will help them get back home.)

He said the repatriation is an ongoing program.

As for the PCG, several Filipino tourists were unable to show their canceled flight bookings back in the Philippines, raising suspicions that they were in Dubai only to look for jobs on a dummy ticket.

"But we let them go home anyway," said a Philippine government official requesting anonymity.

Amputee

Jennifer Caringan, 46-year-old diabetic who hails from Batangas, is heading back to the Philippines in need of healthcare support.

She was diagnosed with diabetes two years ago, when her illness was already at its worst.

"Hindi po kasi ako nagte-take ng gamot. Umiinom ako once in while lang kasi takot akong maapektuhan ang kidney ko," said Caringan.

(I don't take medicine. I drink them once in a while because I was concerned about what the medicine would do to my kidneys.)

Jennifer Caringan, who recently had her left foot amputated due to diabetes, awaits instructions from Philippine authorities in Dubai for her repatriation on Friday, March 27, 2026. JOJO DASS

Caringan has worked as a househelp and caregiver in Malaysia, Jordan, Qatar and then lately to Abu Dhabi. In all these places, she lived alone.

A fellow OFW in Dubai, who noticed that something was wrong with her, took her to a hospital where she underwent amputation.

"May amoy na yung paa niya. Sa sitwayson nya, in the end she is still human kaya ko siya tinulugan," said the good Samaritan, who identified herself only as Corazon.

(Her foot was smelly already. In the end, she is still a human being, so I helped her.)

A different birthday

Beatrice Cena, meanwhile, turned 78 on February 28, the first day of the Middle East conflict. She came to Dubai with her eldest, Jolly Cena Negransa, to visit her son, Arnel, who has been in Dubai as a building inspector for 20 years. They were supposed to celebrate her birthday.

Cena said she still was happy for the reunion despite the war.

A fourth batch of repatriates will be leaving this Saturday in Abu Dhabi, according to Bautista.

Undersecretary Jainal Rasul Jr., Assistant Secretary Venecio Legaspi of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and Dr. Cervando Cimangan, medical center chief of the 100-bed, OFW Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga, left Manila to accompany the repatriates home. — VDV, GMA Integrated News