President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. arrived in Abu Dhabi late Monday night for a working visit aimed at strengthening the Philippines’ expanding economic and strategic ties with the United Arab Emirates.
The President’s plane landed at 11:09 p.m. local time (3:09 a.m. Manila time) at Al Bateen Airport, where he was welcomed by UAE Minister of State Saeed Al Hajeri, alongside Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver.
Marcos is set to participate in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a high-level forum where global leaders discuss energy transition, water security, sustainable finance, food systems, and environmental protection.
Beyond the forum, the visit is expected to deliver concrete outcomes, including the signing of two major bilateral agreements: the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation.
The CEPA, the Philippines’ first free trade agreement with a Middle Eastern country, is expected to expand market access for Philippine goods and services across the Gulf region. The defense agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in defense technologies and capability development.
Marcos said the agreements would benefit Filipinos in the country and the nearly 900,000 Filipinos living and working in the UAE, one of the Philippines’ largest overseas communities.
The President is also scheduled to meet with business leaders and engage with Filipino communities, highlighting a dual focus on investment promotion and the welfare of overseas Filipinos.