51 OFWs, 23 dependents repatriated from Dubai return to PH

A total of 51 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and 23 of their dependents have arrived home from Dubai, as the Philippine government presses ahead with efforts to bring back Filipinos affected by tensions in the Middle East.

The returnees were received by officials from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), who provided post-repatriation assistance including food, financial aid and temporary accommodation. Domestic flights and land transport were arranged for those travelling on to their home provinces.

The latest arrivals form part of a government repatriation operation launched after the escalation of the US-Israel-Iran conflict in late February 2026, which has disrupted Filipino communities across the Gulf. As of mid-July, the DMW said more than 10,580 OFWs, dependents and stranded Filipinos had been brought home from the region.

The largest numbers of repatriates have come from Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with others returning from Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

OWWA said its Regional Welfare Offices would continue to support the returning workers through reintegration programs, livelihood assistance, job matching and skills upgrading, to help them rebuild their lives at home.

Officials urged OFWs in conflict-affected areas to remain in safe locations, comply with advisories issued by host governments, and rely only on verified information from Philippine embassies, Migrant Workers Offices and other government agencies. The DMW said repatriation would continue, though requests have eased from their peak in April and May.