How to Hire Filipino Talent for Your UAE Business: Benefits, Costs & Hiring Timeline
Recruitment is already a complex affair, and even more so if you try to hire locally in the United Arab Emirates’ complicated talent market. It’s no surprise if you’ve considered hiring from the Philippines.
In fact, the UAE is one of the top destinations for OFWs, accounting for 13.6% of working Filipinos abroad. From nurses to hotel staff, Filipino professionals are known for being hardworking, adaptable, and great with people. With their strong English skills and global experience, they often settle into UAE workplaces quickly and require minimal training.
If you want to expand your business, it’s worth partnering with a recruitment agency in the Philippines to hire Filipino staff.
Benefits of Hiring from the Philippines
Tapping into Filipino manpower is a smart long-term investment for your business in the UAE. Here’s why:
You get access to a large, qualified talent pool
The Philippines is one of the world’s top sources of overseas workers, especially in healthcare, construction, hospitality, and engineering. For example, around 20,000 Filipino nurses are currently working across the UAE, making up about 60% of the expat nursing workforce.
Suppose you’re in need of medical staffing solutions. In that case, you’ll find no shortage of skilled nurses, caregivers, and allied health workers from the Philippines, many of whom have international experience and strong English skills.
Salaries are competitive—but still cost-effective
Filipino professionals often command lower salary expectations than local UAE hires, but still bring high levels of training and global experience. Registered nurses from the Philippines typically earn AED 4,000 to AED 15,000 per month, depending on the employer and location.
Meanwhile, engineers, technicians, and IT specialists fall in a similar range, offering great value without compromising on skill or reliability.
The Philippine government supports overseas employment
Through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Philippines has strong systems to ensure legal, ethical, and well-documented deployment of workers. Partnering with a DMW-licensed recruitment agency helps ensure your hiring process is fully compliant and that your employees are protected and well-prepared before they even arrive.
Cost Considerations When Hiring Filipino Staff
Hiring from the Philippines is cost-effective, but it’s still important to plan for the full range of expenses involved. Expect the following:
• Recruitment agency fees: If you’re working with a licensed recruitment agency in the Philippines, you’ll typically pay between 15% to 25% of the employee’s annual salary. In specialised industries like healthcare or tech, the rate might go up, especially for hard-to-fill roles.
• Visa and processing costs: Bringing Filipino talent to the UAE includes visa-related expenses such as medical exams (AED 250–500), Emirates ID (AED 100–200), labour cards, and visa stamping. If you’re hiring under a Free Zone, total costs can range from AED 3,500 to AED 6,500; for Mainland companies, it could be higher.
• Training or onboarding costs: Depending on the role, you might need to cover initial training or certifications—like UAE licensing exams for nurses or safety training for construction workers. These are usually one-time costs that help new hires get up to speed quickly.
• Compensation packages: Filipino professionals typically expect fair but modest packages by UAE standards. Most employers offer a tax-free salary along with housing or transportation allowance, health insurance, and paid leave. These benefits keep your total labour cost competitive while still attracting top-tier talent.
• Avoiding hidden costs: Tapping recruiting solutions means you get full transparency throughout the hiring process. Some employers who go through informal channels end up dealing with unexpected fees, such as VAT add-ons or “mobilization costs.” Partnering with a compliant agency helps you stay on top of your budget and make sure your workers aren’t asked to pay any illegal fees.
Hiring Timeline: From Application to Deployment
Hiring Filipino talent for your UAE business isn’t as complicated as you might think, especially if you partner with a licensed recruitment agency in the Philippines. Here’s what the typical process looks like, from start to finish:
• Define your job requirements: Start by clearly identifying what roles you need to fill—whether it’s registered nurses, engineers, hotel staff, or skilled tradespeople. Be specific about experience, certifications, and soft skills, as this will help narrow down the right candidates quickly.
• Work with a DMW-licensed recruitment agency: Partnering with a legitimate agency is crucial. Licensed agencies in the Philippines handle all the local compliance, sourcing, and pre-deployment requirements—making the process smoother for both you and the workers. For example, Staffhouse International Resources follows a strict no placement fee policy, which ensures workers aren’t burdened with illegal charges.
• Candidate sourcing and shortlisting: The agency will screen and present candidates based on your criteria. You’ll receive CVs, credentials, and—if needed—video introductions or recorded assessments to help you get a better feel for each applicant.
• Interview and selection: You conduct interviews (online or in-person if applicable) and make your selections. Once you’ve chosen your hires, the agency issues offer letters and secures signed employment contracts, aligned with UAE labour standards and Philippine deployment requirements.
• DMW documentation and medical clearance: Selected workers undergo mandatory pre-employment procedures in the Philippines. They include medical exams, a Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS), and authentication of their contract through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
• Visa processing and deployment: While your hires complete their documentation, you’ll begin the UAE-side process: applying for work permits, Emirates ID registration, and visa stamping. Processing usually takes two to four weeks. Once done, the agency books flights and finalizes deployment.
Why Partner with Staffhouse International Resources
At Staffhouse, we’re a 100% Filipino-owned recruitment agency licensed by the DMW (previously POEA) since 1999. We take pride in our commitment to ethical recruitment, maintaining a strict zero placement fee policy from day one.
Our team delivers end-to-end staffing solutions, with experience in healthcare, engineering, hospitality, and more. We also work closely with employers to ensure a smooth, compliant hiring process. If you’re looking to hire skilled Filipino talent, we’re here to support you every step of the way—with transparency, care, and long-term results.
Reach out today to build a strong recruitment process.
