Filipinos in UAE Gear Up for 2028 Vote

Filipino Voting Rights in UAE: Registration Resumes for 2028 Elections

In preparation for the 2028 Philippine national elections, Filipino citizens residing in the United Arab Emirates will once again have the opportunity to register in the 'overseas voting' system. According to the official announcement, the registration period will span from December 1, 2025, to September 30, 2027—providing a total of 22 months for interested parties. This extensive timeframe demonstrates the significant importance of diaspora communities' participation in Philippine democratic processes.

Who is eligible to register?

According to the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec), every Filipino citizen who turns 18 years old by May 8, 2028, is eligible to register as an overseas voter. This eligibility allows them to participate in the 2028 national elections, where they can vote for the president, vice president, 12 senators, and a party-list representative.

Registration is particularly crucial for the diaspora, as during previous elections, Filipinos living in the UAE actively exercised their voting rights. The diplomatic missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi repeatedly showed one of the highest participation rates in the world.

Where to register?

Several locations will be available for registration:

At the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi

At the consulate in Dubai

At designated registration centers in the Philippines

This decentralized system allows Filipinos residing in various cities across the UAE easy access to the registration process without the need for long travels.

Required documents

Applicants must bring the following valid documents:

A valid Philippine passport

For seafarers, the Seafarer’s Record Book (SRB)

For dual citizens: documents approving naturalization or an original or certified copy of the nationality certificate

Having official documents is crucial since they validate enrollment in the electoral register. It is advisable to check these documents' validity in advance to ensure a smooth registration process.

Online Voting: A milestone for the Filipino diaspora

During the 2022 elections, significant participation was registered in the UAE; in Dubai alone, more than 60,000 Filipinos exercised their voting rights. The 2024 midterm elections introduced online voting, revolutionizing the participation process.

Statistics show that:

24,742 registered Filipino voters from Dubai,

13,234 voters from Abu Dhabi

A total of 37,976 people participated in online voting in the UAE, which is a global record.

Digital voting not only made the election process more convenient but also significantly reduced the inconveniences associated with queuing. This is an essential consideration in a country where working hours often dictate people's daily movements.

Why is participation important?

Diaspora participation in national elections is not just a right but also a responsibility. Overseas citizens' choices can influence the direction of the Philippine government, social justice, education policy, and economic strategies.

Filipinos living in the UAE often maintain ties to their homeland not only emotionally but also financially, as they send substantial funds back home, supporting their families and contributing to the Philippine economy. Thus, voting provides them with an opportunity to indirectly shape domestic politics and society.

The challenges and opportunities ahead

The coming months will be crucial in terms of how widely Filipino residents in the UAE can be reached and activated. The consulates and embassies are tasked with providing appropriate information and facilitating the registration process.

Technological advancements, such as the spread of online voting, increasingly contribute to the transparency and accessibility of elections. This is particularly important for future generations, who naturally navigate the digital space and expect simple, fast administrative processes.

Summary

For the Filipino community residing in the UAE, the 2028 elections represent not just a democratic event but an opportunity for change. The nearly two-year-long registration period provides an ideal environment for all eligible individuals to seize the opportunity and prepare to influence the future of the Philippines—even from thousands of kilometers away.

Therefore, any Filipino citizen living in the UAE should not miss this opportunity. Starting December 1, the path to participation opens, paving the way for a more efficient, digitally supported democracy.

(Source of the article: Statement announced on the official Facebook page of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi.)