A Filipino expatriate who disappeared after Christmas has been found receiving treatment at a UAE hospital, while anxious relatives are seeking public support and official assistance to understand his condition and circumstances.
Filipino expatriate reported missing since Christmas located in a UAE hospital as family, deeply concerned, appeals for assistance
A Filipino expatriate, aged 52, who disappeared in Abu Dhabi on Christmas Day has been traced to a hospital nearly ten days later. While the family has expressed relief at locating Andres Andaya Balane, relatives in the Philippines remain anxious and confused about the circumstances that led to his hospitalisation.
His daughter, 21-year-old Ezra Nhiez Balane, who lives with her mother and sister in the Philippines, first learned of her father’s possible location through fellow Filipinos in Abu Dhabi. They had come across a missing-person notice shared on social media and reached out with information. According to details shared by Good Samaritans, Andres suffered breathing complications, was placed on a ventilator, and underwent surgery. He has yet to regain consciousness.
A source confirmed to insider18 that Andres is currently being treated in the hospital’s surgical intensive care unit, although doctors have not disclosed further information about his condition.
Ezra said her father has a history of high blood pressure but was otherwise healthy and had not complained of any serious medical problems in recent years.
The family last spoke to Andres at around 7.30am on December 25. At the time, he told them he was planning to attend church to mark Christmas. Andres lives in bachelor accommodation in Abu Dhabi and has not been in contact since that conversation. The exact date and circumstances of his admission to hospital remain unknown.
Originally from Guimaras province, Ezra explained that she contacted Abu Dhabi Police for help but was unable to reach her father’s employer, an engineering company based in Mussafah Seaport. She later managed to speak with one of his colleagues, who said the matter had been reported to management. However, the family has yet to receive any official update.
A cousin of Andres, who lives in Dubai, is expected to travel to Abu Dhabi to visit him and gather more details about his condition.
Meanwhile, Andres’ wife and daughter have filed a report with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in the Philippines to seek assistance. They are hoping the agency will provide further guidance and information in the coming days.
His wife, who runs a salon business in the Philippines, said she is trying to stay strong for their two daughters despite the emotional strain. “My older daughter and I are trying to keep going, even though it is extremely difficult,” she said. “Today, I found my younger daughter crying by herself.”
An oxygen welder from Bicol, Andres has worked in the UAE for seven years. His family said they have not seen him in person since he left the Philippines in 2018. Despite the distance, he made frequent efforts to stay in touch with his children, including his youngest daughter, who is only 13.
“He is gentle, thoughtful, and deeply devoted to his family,” Ezra said. “He always tried to provide for us and would call whenever he had internet access.”
The family’s challenges are compounded by financial difficulties. None of them currently hold passports, and travelling to Abu Dhabi is not immediately possible. “We don’t have the means to go there,” Ezra said. “I will try to apply for my passport tomorrow. I really want to be with my father because the hospital said an immediate family member needs to be present.”
Ezra also shared a family photograph taken 12 years ago — the only picture she has with her father — with insider18.
She said the family plans to approach the UAE mission for support while continuing to await responses from Philippine authorities.
Family members say the uncertainty surrounding Andres’ condition has taken an emotional toll on everyone involved, particularly his young daughters. With limited information from hospital authorities and no clear timeline for recovery, they are struggling to cope from afar. Ezra said sleepless nights have become common as they wait for updates, relying largely on messages from kind-hearted Filipinos in the UAE. She added that not being physically present during such a critical time has been one of the hardest aspects, as the family can only imagine what Andres is going through while unconscious and alone.
Community support has begun to grow online, with several Filipino expat groups sharing Andres’ story and offering help where possible. Some have volunteered to check on his status at the hospital, while others have helped relay messages to the family in the Philippines. Ezra said this support has provided comfort during an otherwise overwhelming situation. “We are grateful to everyone who has reached out, even strangers,” she said. “Their kindness reminds us that my father is not alone, and that people care about what happens to him.”
As the family awaits official assistance, they remain hopeful that more clarity will emerge in the coming days. Ezra said her immediate priority is securing the necessary documents to travel if required, while also coordinating with relatives in the UAE. Despite the fear and uncertainty, the family continues to pray for Andres’ recovery and safe return home one day. “We just want him to wake up and know that we are here, fighting for him,” Ezra said, adding that their hope remains strong despite the difficult circumstances.
