| Photo via Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines (PAL) will resume its nonstop Manila–Dubai service on October 2, 2026, restoring a major route heavily used by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and business travelers. The airline announced the relaunch on June 29, 2026, confirming that flights will initially operate four times weekly before gradually returning to daily service as conditions allow.
The restored service includes PR 658 departing Manila at 12:50 p.m. and arriving in Dubai at 6:00 p.m., and PR 659 departing Dubai at 7:45 p.m. and arriving in Manila at 9:10 a.m. the following day. PAL is offering an introductory round‑trip fare starting at US$650 (or AED 2,740) for a limited period.
PAL said the return of the Dubai route will “strengthen connectivity for overseas Filipinos, business travelers, tourists, and cargo customers traveling between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates,” noting Dubai’s role as a gateway to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Suspension Triggered by Regional Conflict
The Manila–Dubai route was suspended for nearly three months due to the Israel–Iran conflict, which forced airlines to avoid affected airspace. PAL simultaneously halted flights to Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh, citing safety concerns following retaliatory strikes in the region.
Other airlines did not completely halt operations in Dubai. Cebu Pacific, for example, continued flying to Dubai throughout the conflict, stating: “Our route does not fly over the conflict‑affected areas in the Middle East, allowing us to operate safely.”
Emirates also maintained operations, with OFWs lining up at its counters at NAIA Terminal 3 even during the height of the regional tensions.
Filipino Workers in Dubai
Dubai hosts one of the world’s largest Filipino expatriate communities. As of 2024, 12.4% of all OFWs were based in the UAE, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Filipinos in Dubai are heavily concentrated in industries such as hospitality, retail, construction, healthcare, aviation services, and domestic work. Many reside in areas like Deira, Bur Dubai, Al Satwa, Karama, and Al Nahda, where housing is more affordable and Filipino businesses are clustered.
The resumption of PAL flights is expected to ease travel for OFWs who regularly commute between Dubai and Manila for work rotations, family visits, and holidays.
In its statement, PAL said the route’s reopening will “reconnect two of the region’s most important travel and commercial hubs” and improve travel options for OFWs, tourists, and cargo customers.
PAL added that flight frequencies will “progressively increase toward daily operations as conditions permit,” signaling confidence in stabilizing Middle East airspace.
New Travel Policy to Dubai
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs has informed the public that effective 25 June 2026, Filipino citizens traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using their Philippine passports and possessing a valid visa, residence permit, or Green Card issued by any of the following countries — United States of America, European Union member states, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Canada, and New Zealand — shall be eligible for the grant of a visa‑on‑arrival by the UAE.
The DFA encourages Filipino travelers, particularly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Dubai and the wider UAE, to monitor airline advisories and ensure compliance with UAE entry requirements as commercial flight operations return to regular schedules.
