From a childhood dream in the Philippines to 17 years in the skies: Why Dubai became home for Nacel Concepcion

As a 12-year-old girl in Manila, Philippines, Nacel Concepcion was busy watering plants outside her family home when she noticed a woman walking past in a crisp uniform, pulling a small trolley bag.

It was a scene she never forgot.

This week, the 44-year-old UAE resident marked 17 years since she flew her first operational flight to Amman, Jordan, on June 2, 2009.

“Back then, I didn’t even know what that bag was called. A car came to pick her up and I noticed it had ‘Philippine Airlines’ written on it. I got curious and ran to my father. I asked him what her job was. He told me she was a flight stewardess. I then asked what a flight stewardess does, and he simply said, ‘She works inside an airplane.’,” Concepcion told Emirates 24|7.

“The moment he said airplane, that was it. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

More than three decades later, that childhood moment remains one of the clearest memories of a journey that would eventually take her far beyond the Philippines and lead her to a life in Dubai.

The city became her base, as she travelled to different corners of the world, living the dream job she had once aspired to as a teenager.

“Over the years, I have experienced almost everything aviation can throw at you,” she said. “Delays, diversions, medical emergencies, first aid situations, challenging passengers, difficult days and unforgettable moments. Every experience taught me something valuable and helped me become more resilient, adaptable and confident in my role.”

Today, the flydubai cabin crew member lives in Sharjah with her nine-year-old son, Santiago, while continuing to build a career that took her around the world.

Nacel first arrived in the UAE in June 2000, where her mother worked, in search of better opportunities. At the time, she had imagined a very different future for herself.

“As the only daughter in the family, my parents always wanted the best opportunities for me. Looking back now, that decision changed my life completely,” she said.

“My plan back then was simple: finish school, find a job and build a life in the Philippines,” she said.

Instead, Dubai became the backdrop for nearly every major milestone that followed.

“This is where I got my very first job. In fact, I have never worked in the Philippines. My entire professional journey started in Dubai,” she said. “It is also where I learned to be independent and build a life of my own.”

What began as a place where her family lived gradually became something much more permanent.

“At first, I stayed because my family was here. My mother, brothers, relatives and cousins all lived in Dubai at some point. As the years passed, life took everyone in different directions, but by then I had already established my own life here.”

Over the years, she has watched Dubai transform from a growing regional city into one of the world's leading aviation and business hubs.

“I arrived in Dubai when the city was very different from what it is today,” she said. “I feel like I grew alongside Dubai.”

“Watching Dubai evolve taught me the importance of adapting, working hard and embracing change,” she said. “It showed me that growth doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, consistency and the willingness to keep moving forward.”

The city has, over the years, offered her the sense of safety, stability and belonging that have made it home.

“I have always felt welcome here,” she said. “Life is convenient, opportunities are everywhere and people from different cultures live side by side. Many cities are beautiful to visit, but very few become part of your story. Dubai became part of mine.”

“Home is where you grow, where you build your life and where your most important memories are made. For me, Dubai will always be one of those places.”