For the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos working in the United Arab Emirates, the news of the country retaining its title as the world’s leading entrepreneurial hub isn't just a badge of honor for their host nation. It is a signal of stability, a blueprint for career advancement, and for many, a direct invitation to transition from employee to business owner. The latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 report has once again ranked the UAE first globally for ease of starting and running a business, marking its fifth consecutive year at the top.
This sustained ranking, which places the Emirates ahead of several advanced economies, is a direct result of a "deliberately built economic ecosystem," according to experts. For Filipinos navigating the region's job market, this ecosystem is translating into a surge in job creation, better labor protections, and a growing push to see Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as potential business partners in the country's economic diversification.
A Magnet for Money and Market Access
The UAE’s dominance in the GEM report stems from its near-perfect performance across several critical metrics. It ranked first among high-income economies in eight indicators, including physical infrastructure, government policy support, and ease of market entry. However, the most tangible impact for OFWs is the flow of capital. The UAE ranked second globally for both entrepreneurial finance and access to funding, creating a domino effect that encourages expansion. “The report showed strong performance across key areas that support business activity," the GEM findings noted, adding that the UAE is one of only four countries to meet or exceed all conditions measured
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This economic confidence is drawing investment, which directly fuels job security and career mobility. In a climate where global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 11 percent in 2024, the UAE still managed to attract $45.6 billion in FDI inflows. "That contrast is important as it shows that the UAE is gaining investment traction even when global capital flows are under pressure," Dr. Wissam El Khoury, an associate dean at the American University in Dubai, told Aletihad.
From Employee to Employer: The Entrepreneurial Leap for OFWs
Beyond traditional jobs, the UAE's startup culture offers OFWs a new path to financial independence. The GEM report noted that entrepreneurial activity in the UAE is high, with more than one in five adults starting or running a new business, a figure that includes the country’s significant foreign resident population. This environment is actively nurturing Filipino success stories. In a notable example, a Dubai-based OFW grew a small in-house shirt-printing start-up into a full-scale business, providing jobs to other Filipinos even as his own prospects flourished.
The government is directly facilitating this shift. Programs like the Dubai Landlord Training Program are actively inviting OFWs to transition from salary earners to asset owners, teaching them to legally and profitably build Airbnb businesses. For those looking to set up a formal company, free zones like IFZA now allow 100% foreign ownership with no local sponsor, making it easier for Filipinos in Manila to transition their operations to Dubai’s tax-free environment without massive upfront capital.
Stronger Protections and Trade Pathways
The UAE’s desire to be a premier business destination has also forced a recalibration of how it treats its foreign workforce. New policies are being implemented to lock in stability and protect workers’ rights. The UAE is set to adopt standardized employment contracts that will be signed electronically and linked to immigration systems, effectively eliminating "contract substitution"—a notorious practice where workers are forced to sign new, unfavorable contracts upon arrival.
This movement aligns with a historic shift in bilateral relations. In January 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE. This free trade deal is expected to generate more quality jobs and reduce tariffs for Philippine exports. It is the first such agreement with a Middle Eastern country, designed to "expand non-discriminatory access for Filipino professionals and workers in such sectors as healthcare, construction, information technology, tourism, and education." This opens up a strong, legal channel for even more Filipinos to enter the thriving UAE market.
Why It Matters for the Filipino Workforce
The numbers underscore why this economic growth is critical for the Philippines. With the Middle East conflict ongoing, over one million OFWs are currently facing elevated risks. As of 2025-2026 data, approximately 397,892 Filipinos are working in the UAE alone, representing the single largest concentration of OFWs in a volatile region. A stable, growing, and legally transparent UAE economy acts as a buffer against that volatility. It provides a safer, more predictable environment for remittances and offers a potential alternative path for those displaced by conflict elsewhere.
Crucially, the UAE is also where Filipino entrepreneurs are gathering. More than 2,592 Filipino companies are now registered in Dubai, taking advantage of these new investment laws and training programs. For the OFW looking beyond a monthly paycheck, the message from the UAE’s fifth consecutive #1 ranking is clear: this is a country that has built a system where a determined worker can truly ascend from earning a wage to building a legacy.
