A total of 299 Filipinos, including 23 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and two children, arrived safely in the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 5, 2026. The return was prompted by escalating Middle East tensions.
The group landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 through Emirates Airlines Flight 336 from Dubai, marking the first batch of Filipinos brought home through a series of government-led flights. Many returned either for safety and security reasons urged by their employers, after completing their contracts, or for personal reasons. The operation was coordinated as UAE airports gradually reopened with limited flights due to the unstable situation in the region.
Upon touchdown, the stranded Filipinos were received by a government team led by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Immediate financial support from the DMW AKSYON Fund was distributed. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) managed accommodation and transportation logistics, helping returnees reach their home provinces swiftly. The Department of Health (DOH) offered medical evaluation and assistance, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided psychosocial support to help ease the returnees’ stress and anxiety after their ordeal abroad. The government’s unified approach ensured that all returnees received comprehensive aid, from financial help to health care and emotional support.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac personally welcomed the returning Filipinos, extending the warm greetings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. He expressed appreciation for international cooperation that contributed to the safe return, specifically thanking the UAE government and the local leaders in Dubai for their care and assistance to Filipinos during the crisis. Cacdac also acknowledged the safety protocols and defense measures implemented by Middle Eastern host countries to safeguard foreign workers.
He reaffirmed the government’s ongoing commitment: “We thank the UAE government, the local government of Dubai sa pag-aalaga sa ating mga Kababayan.” He assured families that the DMW and OWWA would continue to coordinate with agencies to sustain assistance, in accordance with the President’s directive to prioritize the safety