The Migrant Workers Office for Dubai and the Northern Emirates (MWO-Dubai) has announced that, effective Monday, September 14, 2026, it will begin accepting card payments via point-of-sale (POS) terminals for five specific services. This change, outlined in Advisory No. 21, Series of 2026, provides an alternative to the traditional cash-only payment method for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and employers.
- Card payments available for five essential services starting September 14, 2026
- Cash payments remain accepted with the standard Dh40 contract verification fee unchanged
- New option introduced in response to requests from OFWs, expats, and principals
The services eligible for card payments include Balik-Manggagawa Contract Verification, Employer Accreditation and Job Order Processing, Rehire Processing, Direct Hire Processing, and Tadbeer Hiring for domestic workers. While the office will continue to accept cash payments, the standard Dh40 fee for contract verification remains unchanged. Officials noted that
card transactions may be subject to applicable bank/card network charges and VAT, depending on the card type and transaction amount. Labor Attaché Atty. John Rio A. Bautista stated that the implementation of the card payment system is a direct response to requests from OFWs, expatriates, and principals seeking more flexible payment options.
The MWO-Dubai jurisdiction covers Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, while workers in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain remain under the jurisdiction of the MWO-Abu Dhabi office. Operating hours at the MWO-Dubai office, located in Al Qusais 3 on Beirut Street near the Al Qusais Police Station, are Monday to Thursday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and Friday from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM. For assistance, the office provides the following contact lines: Assistance to Nationals at +971 56 353 5558, Contract Verification at +971 50 652 6626, and OWWA services at +971 50 558 5536. Further information is available at https://mwodubai.org or via the MWO Dubai Official Facebook page. Authorities advise users to request transaction receipts and verify any potential surcharges when utilizing card payments.
