President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines on Wednesday after a two-day working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that yielded major agreements on trade and defense, reinforcing the growing partnership between the two countries.
Marcos said the visit centered on shaping a “future-ready world,” with cooperation in critical sectors such as energy, water, finance, food, and the environment—areas he stressed have a direct impact on the lives of Filipinos at home and abroad.
The President took part in high-level talks during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which he described as the world’s largest gathering of leaders focused on sustainability and global development.
“I assured them that the Philippines is committed to finding solutions and to implementing the policies needed for a sustainable future for the people,” Marcos said in his arrival statement after his plane landed at around 11:28 a.m.
“I have taken note of the views and efforts of my fellow government leaders in tackling the complex issues relevant to the world’s future,” he added.
A key outcome of the visit was the signing of the Philippines-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the country’s first free trade agreement with a Gulf state. Marcos said the pact would open wider market access for Philippine products and services in the Middle East, particularly the Gulf region, while also diversifying sources and markets for essential goods.
The agreement includes the liberalization of trade in services in the UAE, covering sectors such as professional services, health, construction, and information technology.
“This enhancement of market access by the UAE for Filipino service providers is a clear recognition of the professional competence and excellence of Filipinos in these fields. It is also an acknowledgement of their invaluable contributions to the UAE’s economy,” Marcos said.
The President also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation, which establishes a platform for collaboration on advanced defense technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, and naval systems.
He said the agreement would deepen defense and military ties through education and training, intelligence and security sharing, and joint efforts in anti-terrorism, maritime security, and peacekeeping operations.
“These new agreements were forged based on the strength of our bilateral relations with the UAE, founded on the strong people-to-people ties which our countrymen have built over decades of friendship with the people of the UAE,” Marcos said.
Marcos thanked UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE government for hosting the sustainability forum and for strengthening relations anchored on longstanding people-to-people connections.
The President said the Philippines remains committed to expanding partnerships with other countries to boost economic growth and promote peace and stability for the benefit of the Filipino people.
