DUBAI: The Migrant Workers Office in Dubai and the Northern Emirates has released the first-round results for the Department of Migrant Workers one-time financial assistance for OFWs affected by the Middle East crisis.
Under MWO-Dubai Advisory No. 15, Series of 2026, the office said it opened four batches of applications and made 4,063 slots available. Out of these applications, 3,298 were approved, equal to an 81.17 percent approval rate.
The advisory follows earlier MWO-Dubai advisories on the financial assistance program for OFWs whose work was affected by the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
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Over 2,300 OFWs Have Collected the Aid
As of May 12, 2026, 12:00 noon, MWO-Dubai said 2,367 approved applicants had already received or collected the assistance.
Another 931 approved applicants were still pending collection.
The fourth application batch had the biggest number of pending collections, with 815 still unclaimed. This may be important for approved OFWs who have not yet completed the release process.
Approval Rates by Application Batch
MWO-Dubai shared the following first-round results:
| Form | Slots Opened | Approved | Approval Rate | Released or Collected | Pending Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form 1 | 822 | 658 | 80.05% | 638 | 20 |
| Form 2 | 1,027 | 797 | 77.60% | 744 | 53 |
| Form 3 | 1,018 | 830 | 81.53% | 787 | 43 |
| Form 4 | 1,196 | 1,013 | 84.70% | 198 | 815 |
| Total | 4,063 | 3,298 | 81.17% | 2,367 | 931 |
MWO-Dubai also said 765 applications, or 18.83 percent, were disapproved.
Why Some Applications Were Not Approved
According to the advisory, some applications were not approved due to ineligibility, jurisdiction, the applicant’s current location, lack of work disruption, visa type, and other reasons.
MWO-Dubai reminded the public that the aid is limited to land-based OFWs whose employment was affected by the conflict.
Applicants must currently be in the UAE and must hold an employment visa or Emirates ID issued in Dubai or the Northern Emirates.
They must also NOT have received financial assistance for the same crisis.
OFWs in the Philippines Given Separate Advice
OFWs who are already in the Philippines were advised to coordinate with the nearest DMW Regional Office for evaluation.
Their requests will still depend on available funds and the requirements of the regional office.
For now, MWO-Dubai said it is waiting for further instructions and funding from the DMW for the next round of applications. Approved applicants should monitor official MWO-Dubai announcements and follow collection instructions carefully.
