The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi is alerting Filipino nationals in the UAE to be wary of fixers and unauthorized individuals claiming they can arrange government repatriation in exchange for payment — a practice officials say has no basis and could expose victims to legal risk.
The Embassy made clear that no fee is charged at any point in the official repatriation process. Anyone found misrepresenting themselves as part of the government’s evacuation program, or collecting money from Filipinos seeking to return home, faces potential legal action under applicable laws.
The warning comes as the Philippine government continues flying batches of its nationals home from the UAE amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Six chartered and commercial repatriation flights have departed the Emirates since early March, bringing home OFWs, their dependents, and stranded tourists. The most recent flight, which landed in Manila on March 29, carried 345 passengers — among them pregnant women, minors, and elderly dependents.
All flights have been fully funded by the Department of Migrant Workers. Operations are coordinated across several agencies, including the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, the Migrant Workers Office, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
Filipinos with outstanding travel bans or unresolved legal matters — including cases tied to unpaid bank loans — are not automatically disqualified. The MWO’s Assistance to Nationals section can help address these complications before processing proceeds.
Those who have already returned to the Philippines are not being asked to make permanent decisions. Most repatriates have indicated they intend to go back to the UAE once conditions allow. The government has said it will not object to their return, provided UAE authorities raise no barriers.
To register for repatriation or seek assistance, Filipinos in the UAE may reach the Embassy and its attached offices through the following:
By SMS, Call, or WhatsApp: Assistance-to-Nationals (OFWs): +971 56 270 9157 Assistance-to-Nationals (non-OFWs): +971 504438003 Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA): +971 54 557 2121 Contract Verification: +971 54 725 8482 Consular and Other Concerns: +971 50 813 7836
By Email: abudhabi.pe@dfa.gov.ph mwo_abudhabi@dmw.gov.ph
The OWWA national hotline 1348 also operates around the clock for families in the Philippines seeking updates on relatives in the region.
