A recent report from communications agency, Eon Group, revealed that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE have a long-term commitment to staying in the Gulf nation.
The UAE has been among one of the most expat-friendly nations – the 4th globally in terms of the best places to work for expats according to a research study released earlier this year. With the country’s progressive leadership and openness to a variety of cultures, it’s no surprise that Filipinos, too, find the Middle East state an excellent destination for work and to grow a career.
OFWs Look to Stay Longer in UAE for Opportunities, Study Reveals
The study which was released on Tuesday (September 17) revealed that 41.3% of Filipinos surveyed have been living in the UAE for two to five years while 21.7% have been living there for only a year since May 2019, as shared in a report by the Philippine Star.
The study further noted that around 37% of Filipinos have been staying in the UAE for more than six years; 7% said they have been living in the country for more than 13 years, and the longest recorded stay is 30 years.
Meanwhile, 31.5% of the respondents expressed intent to stay in the Gulf state for another three to five years while 35.6% remain undecided on how long they plan to remain in the UAE.
According to the study, “Having a stable job and higher income is the top response as the reason they [OFWs] stay; followed by the need to address their family’s economic needs; then by career growth opportunities.”
Furthermore, the Eon study also noted that the primary means of Filipinos in the UAE to connect with their friends and family through Facebook Messenger.
Most Filipinos in the UAE also spend their free time on social media – a trait which has even given distinction to Filipinos all over the world.
A number of Filipinos also spend their time participating in church activities in the UAE. Over 2,000 Filipinos attend the Filipino weekly mass held every Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai, the study found.
The study, titled Eon Insight: Focus on the Filipino in the UAE was the first-ever research effort on the contribution of the Filipino community in the UAE.
The study used convenience sampling for the quantitative aspect of data gathering. They collected 200 responses from an online survey and another 400 from face-to-face surveys conducted by researchers sent to the country.
Out of the 600 respondents, 58% are female and 42% are male, with a majority of whom were aged 25 to 45 years old.
According to Eon, the purpose of the study is to get an approximation of the different groupings of the Filipinos in the UAE. The rationale of using mixed methods research is to gain richer and more contextualized understanding of some aspects of experiences and conditions of Filipinos in the UAE.
As Filipinos in the UAE, do you personally have a long-term commitment to stay in the country as well? Do let us know in the comment section below.
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