Philippine President Marcos Jr. Departs Manila for UAE Deal-Signing Visit
PH–UAE ties get a boost as President Marcos flies to Abu Dhabi for trade, defense, and sustainability talks
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left Manila on Wednesday evening for a three-day working visit to the United Arab Emirates, with a packed schedule focused on new deals, climate talks, and tighter ties between the two countries.
The trip comes at a time when Manila and Abu Dhabi are clearly picking up the pace, moving beyond the usual worker-focused relationship toward bigger conversations on trade, defense, and future industries.
Second Marcos–MBZ Meeting in Just Over a Year
One major highlight of the visit is President Marcos’ meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This will be their second face-to-face meeting in just 14 months — a big deal considering there was a 15-year gap between high-level visits before that.
Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver said the quick back-to-back meetings show how fast the relationship is evolving.
In short: things are moving, and both sides want to keep the momentum going.
Trade and Defense Deals Expected
Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, led by the long-awaited Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Talks on the deal have been going on for years, and it’s finally crossing the finish line.
Once signed, CEPA is expected to open more doors for Philippine trade, services, and investments — not just in the UAE, but across the wider Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.
On the security front, a defense cooperation agreement is also on the table. This includes joint training, officer exchanges, and information sharing, tapping into the UAE’s advanced defense capabilities.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Takes Center Stage
Marcos will also take part in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a major global forum that gathers world leaders to talk climate action, renewable energy, and sustainable growth.
For the Philippines, the platform matters. The country is one of the most climate-vulnerable in the world — but it also has growing experience in disaster response, adaptation, and resilience that it wants to share.
This year’s event is expected to draw around a dozen heads of state, putting the Philippines right in the middle of global climate conversations.
Beyond Workers: New Areas of Cooperation
While overseas Filipino workers remain central to PH–UAE relations, Ambassador Ver said the partnership is now expanding into new areas. These include artificial intelligence, renewable energy, the digital economy, and deeper cooperation against terrorism, transnational crime, illegal drugs, and human trafficking.
President Marcos is also set to meet with business leaders and members of the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi before heading home.