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Philippine President Bongbong Marcos Heads to UAE for First Overseas Trip of 2026

Sustainability talks and major trade deals set to headline Abu Dhabi visit

  • Publish date: since 19 hour Reading time: two min read
Philippine President Bongbong Marcos Heads to UAE for First Overseas Trip of 2026

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is kicking off 2026 with a trip to the UAE, marking his first overseas visit of the year and putting sustainability and economic ties front and centre.

The working visit begins on Monday, January 12, according to the Philippine presidency.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week on the Agenda

One of the key stops on Marcos’s schedule is Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a major global gathering where leaders and experts talk climate action, clean energy, and future-focused development.

The event runs from January 11 to January 15 in the UAE capital, and Marcos is expected to take part in discussions linked to sustainability and long-term growth.

Visit Comes at UAE President’s Invitation

The trip is being made at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It follows Marcos’s landmark visit to the UAE in November 2024, when he became the first Philippine president to visit the country in over 15 years.

During that visit, Marcos met both Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, strengthening high-level ties between the two nations.

Trade and Defence Deals Expected

Beyond forums and meetings, the visit is expected to deliver concrete outcomes. Marcos is set to witness the signing of two major agreements between the Philippines and the UAE.

One is the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which would become the Philippines’ first free trade deal with a Middle Eastern country. The goal is to open more doors for Philippine goods and services across the region.

The second is a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation, aimed at boosting collaboration in defence technology and capability development.

Strong People-to-People Ties

The visit also highlights the deep connection between the two countries. More than 660,000 Filipinos currently live and work in the UAE, and over half a million tourists travel from the Philippines to the country each year.

With big agreements on the table and sustainability in focus, Marcos’s UAE trip sets the tone for the Philippines’ international agenda in 2026.

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