Emirates, OWWA seal three-year OFW support deal

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

MANILA — Emirates and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration have signed a three-year memorandum of agreement to develop initiatives supporting the welfare, empowerment, and representation of overseas Filipino workers and their families.

Orhan Abbas, Emirates senior vice president for commercial operations, Far East, and Patricia Yvonne M. Caunan, OWWA vice chairperson, signed the agreement.

Attendees at the signing included Tatiana Korshunova, Emirates senior regional manager for commercial operations; OWWA Deputy Administrator Ryan Vincent L. Uy; and OWWA-Dubai Welfare Officer Martel R. Dasayon.

The partnership comes as the United Arab Emirates, Emirates’ home base, remains one of the largest destinations for Filipino workers.

The Philippine Statistics Authority estimated that 2.19 million OFWs worked abroad in 2024, with 12.4% based in the UAE, making it the second-largest destination after Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 21.9%.

The 12.4% share translates to about 271,000 OFWs in the UAE, according to Emirates.

Cash remittances from the UAE reached USD 750.3 million in the first half of 2026, up 4.3% from USD 719.6 million in the same period in 2025, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data cited by Emirates.

Under the agreement, Emirates and OWWA will coordinate an expanded program of support and repatriation assistance for OFWs this year.

The three-year framework covers welfare and social protection, corporate social responsibility, travel and tourism, reintegration and livelihood, and community engagement.

The partnership may also include preferential fares for official OWWA travel and complimentary travel support for individuals who have championed OFW welfare, subject to Emirates’ operational requirements and approval.

Emirates will support OWWA outreach activities in Dubai and across the Middle East, as well as humanitarian, volunteerism, and recognition initiatives for OFWs and their families.

“Filipino communities are at the heart of the connection between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates, and we are honoured to stand alongside OWWA in caring for the workers who give so much to both nations,” Abbas said.

“This collaboration extends beyond travel to recognising the dedication of OFWs and offering meaningful support to them and their families. We look forward to a successful collaboration with OWWA,” he added.

Caunan said the agreement reflects OWWA’s commitment to protecting and empowering OFWs and their families.

“This partnership with Emirates reflects our continued commitment to protect, empower, and uplift OFWs and their families,” Caunan said.

“Through collaborations like this, we can extend more meaningful support to our members, recognise their sacrifices, and ensure they are treated with the dignity and care they deserve,” she added.

The partnership also builds on Emirates’ broader operations in the Philippines.

Emirates began serving Manila in 1990 and has since expanded its Philippine network to Cebu and Clark.

The Dubai-based airline currently operates 32 weekly flights connecting Manila, Cebu, and Clark with its Dubai hub.

Emirates also expanded its Travel Rehearsal program for neurodiverse children and their families to Cebu and Clark in 2026.

The program allows participants to become familiar with airport procedures, including check-in, immigration, security screening, and boarding, before taking an actual flight.