OFW Guide — UAE
The UAE is home to roughly 700,000 OFWs and represents the largest single OFW concentration in the Gulf, second only to Saudi Arabia overall. Filipino workers fill critical roles across construction, hospitality, healthcare, and retail — sectors that built the modern Dubai and Abu Dhabi skylines. This guide covers UAE-specific essentials: tax-free salaries (no personal income tax), the AED remittance corridor, the mixed weekend schedule (federal Mon-Fri since 2022; many private firms still on Sun-Thu) that shifts banking cut-offs, and the end-of-service gratuity you should always claim before final exit.
OFW population
~700,000 OFWs (largest GCC concentration)
Time zone
GST · 4 hours behind Manila
Currency
د.إ AED · UAE Dirham
Remittance corridor
#2 · ~14% of total OFW remittance
Sending money home from UAE
Since 2022 the UAE federal government works Monday–Friday with a Saturday–Sunday weekend, but many private banks and exchange houses still operate Sunday–Thursday with shortened Friday hours. Send during weekday banking hours UAE time (avoid Friday afternoons) to clear same-day in PH. Always confirm your specific bank or exchange house's cut-off times.
Common sending channels
- LuLu Money
- Western Union
- Al Ansari Exchange
- Wise
- Remitly
- GCash international
Taxation
UAE has no personal income tax. Remittances to PH are not taxed by either side. The UAE 9% corporate tax (effective 2023) does not apply to salaried OFWs.
Public holidays in UAE
The UAE observes Islamic holidays based on lunar sighting — Eid al-Fitr (around late March 2026), Eid al-Adha (around late May 2026), and others. Plus National Day on December 2 (3-day weekend). UAE labor law guarantees full pay for these holidays. Since 2022, the federal government works Monday–Friday with a Saturday–Sunday weekend; many private companies still operate Sunday–Thursday — confirm with your employer.
For Philippine holidays, see the full 2026 calendar. If you plan a trip home, also check the long weekends list to maximize your time off.
Common popular jobs
- Construction
- Hospitality
- Healthcare
- Retail
- Domestic worker
- Engineering
Pitfalls to avoid
- Kafala-style sponsorship has been mostly reformed but contract substitution remains a risk. Verify your job offer through POEA before flying.
- End-of-service gratuity is a UAE legal right (about 21 days pay per year for first 5 years). Make sure to claim it before final exit.
- Avoid taking out personal loans from UAE banks shortly before exiting — bounced cheque cases can prevent re-entry.
Best time to send money home →
Time your remittance around Philippine holidays, 13th month, and back-to-school.
13th month pay rules →
Understand the mandatory year-end bonus your family back home is entitled to.
Official sources for UAE
Information on this page is sourced from the host country's official government channels and the Philippine government's consular and migrant worker agencies. Verify on the source URLs above for any payroll, taxation, or legal decisions.
- UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE)— UAE MoHRE
- UAE Federal Tax Authority — Personal income tax— UAE FTA
- End-of-service gratuity rules (UAE Labour Law)— UAE Government Portal
- Philippine Embassy — Abu Dhabi— Department of Foreign Affairs (PH)
Learn how we verify and update this data — Methodology & Sources