 The global financial crisis of 2008–2009 has taken a toll on the working Filipino population in the United Arab Emirates, and in December 2008 alone, 3,000 Filipino workers lost their jobs.The overall population shrank by 20% at the end of 2008 as compared to the end of 2007.The Embassy of the Philippines in the UAE asked laid-off Filipinos to register, because of the possibility of job openings in Qatar.