The Republic of the Philippines - UAE Relationships

• The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of the Philippines enjoy strong and longstanding relations of friendship dating back to the establishment of diplomatic ties on 19 August 1974. Over the decades, bilateral relations have witnessed sustained growth across various sectors, marked by the opening of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Abu Dhabi in 1980 and the opening of the UAE Embassy in Manila in 1989.
• The bilateral partnership has been strengthened through the exchange of High-Level Official Visits and the signing of agreements and memorandums in field of investment, trade, development, labor and aviation. Also, UAE is a home to one of the largest Filipino communities in the middle east region, where are number of the community`s members contribute an important role in various economic and developmental sectors, reflecting the depth of the human ties between the two friendly people. In 2024 the two countries celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relation.
• The aviation sector has played a significant role in strengthening ties between the two countries through the launch of direct flights to destinations beyond Manila, creating new opportunities for investment, trade, and tourism across different regions of the Philippines. With high number of weekly flights operate between the two countries, served by national carriers including Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways, as well as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
• Beyond economic and commercial cooperation, development and humanitarian assistance constitutes an important pillar of the UAE’s engagement with the Philippines. The UAE has actively supported poverty alleviation efforts and disaster relief initiatives, most notably through the rehabilitation of communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. These efforts included the reconstruction of 18 schools, the provision of medical equipment to Samar Provincial Hospital, and the construction of a health center and mosque in the province.
• During 2021 and 2022, the UAE provided 50 COVID-19 testing devices with accompanying test kits, 100,000 vaccine doses, and seven tons of medical supplies. In June 2023, the UAE became the first country to deliver humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the eruption of Mayon Volcano in Albay Province, providing 51 tons of food supplies. In February 2024, the UAE extended USD 100,000 in relief assistance to victims of flooding in Mindanao. In October 2025, through the UAE Aid Agency, urgent humanitarian support was provided to approximately 40,000 families affected by the Cebu Island earthquake, in addition to extending urgent humanitarian assistance to over 20,000 families affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on 8 June 2026. 
• Over the years, the UAE has implemented a wide range of charitable and humanitarian initiatives in the Philippines, including food and clothing distribution, healthcare services, infrastructure projects, and educational and cultural programs. These efforts have included surgical outreach missions by the Noor Dubai Foundation to combat preventable blindness. In addition, the Emirates Red Crescent and the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation sponsor daily Ramadan iftar programs and distribute clothing, food supplies, and sacrificial meat during religious holidays.
• On the bilateral front, the first round of political consultations between the two countries was held on 9 January 2017, during which an agreement establishing a Joint Cooperation Committee was signed. This milestone was followed by the signing of four labor agreements on 18 September 2017, covering cooperation in labor affairs, mutual recognition of skilled workers, domestic worker employment, and oversight of labor exchange mechanisms. A second round of consultations was subsequently held in Abu Dhabi in 2018 and a third in Manila in 2020. On both occasions, the Philippine delegation was led by H.E. Enrique Manalo, then Undersecretary for Policy Affairs and currently Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
• In 2021, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Joint Consular Affairs Committee, which convened its inaugural meeting the same year. In 2022, three agreements were signed covering investment promotion and protection, agricultural cooperation, and space cooperation between the UAE Space Agency and the Philippine Space Agency. 
• In 2023, the two sides signed three additional memoranda of understanding in the fields of climate change, digital infrastructure.
• In November 2024, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed His Excellency Ferdinand Marcos Jr, President of the Republic of the Philippines, during his working visit to the UAE, Also His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received H.E Ferdinand Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, On the sidelines of this visit a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Culture was signed between the UAE Ministry of Culture and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Republic of the Philippines, in the presence of First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines.
• In February 2025, on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai, in the presence of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to support the rehabilitation of the Pasig River in Manila under the supervision of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, During the event, Clean Rivers Foundation announced the UAE’s commitment to provide up to USD 20 million in support of initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of river-dependent communities and advancing circular economy solutions to prevent waste leakage into waterways. In addition to three cooperation agreements, including the extradition of criminals, the transfer of convicts, and providing assistance in criminal matters, to enhance the cooperation in judicial matters between the two countries.
• In January 2026, UAE, Philippines begin new chapter of trade, investment cooperation with signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) , witnessed by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Philippines President His Excellency Ferdinand R Marcos Jr – on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026.
• Climate action and renewable energy have emerged as important areas of cooperation between the two countries. The UAE continues to support Philippine efforts to address climate change, particularly given the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate-related challenges. In turn, the Philippines strongly supported the UAE’s presidency of COP28. Especially The UAE agreement which contributed to straightening global climate action. This area is expected to witness further collaboration in the years ahead, reflecting the shared commitment of both countries to advancing sustainable development and environmental resilience.
• Building on the momentum generated by the UAE’s COP28 Presidency, the UAE contributed to the historic operationalization of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, committed USD 100 million, and hosted the inaugural meeting of the Fund’s Board in Abu Dhabi. The selection of the Philippines as host country of the Board provides an additional avenue to deepen bilateral cooperation on climate finance, adaptation, climate resilience, and responding to loss and damage, particularly in light of the Philippines’ high exposure to the impacts of climate change.

Economic relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of the Philippines have expanded significantly in recent years, encompassing trade, investment, renewable energy, finance, logistics, infrastructure, and digital infrastructure. The UAE is the Philippines’ largest trading partner and leading investor among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Bilateral economic ties entered a new phase following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in January 2026, marking the Philippines’ first free trade agreement with a Middle Eastern country. The agreement is expected to reduce tariffs, expand market access for goods and services, increase investment flows, strengthen supply chains across multiple sectors, and support small and medium-sized enterprises through enhanced regulatory cooperation and sustainable development initiatives.

• On the renewable energy front, cooperation between the two countries continues to gain momentum. In January 2025, Masdar signed an implementation agreement with the Philippine Department of Energy to develop solar, wind, and energy storage projects, targeting the deployment of up to 1 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with plans to expand to as much as 10 GW by 2035, with an estimated investment value of up to USD 15 billion. In the field of digital infrastructure, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2023 to support the development of data centers with a planned capacity of 500 megawatts. Several UAE companies continue to explore investment opportunities in this rapidly growing sector, particularly those linked to artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
• In logistics and maritime infrastructure, DP World has expanded its presence in the Philippines through the development of the South Harbor Manila terminal, the modernization of Batangas International Port, and the development of the Tanza Container Terminal in Cavite Province.
• UAE investments have also diversified into other strategic sectors. In October 2025, NMDC Group signed an investment agreement for land reclamation projects in Manila Bay. During the same year, Spinneys entered into a partnership with Ayala Corporation to establish a chain of premium grocery stores in the Philippines, marking the company’s first expansion outside the Middle East. In 2026, the central banks of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen financial cooperation, promote Islamic finance, and facilitate cross-border payment systems.
• At the same time, the presence of Philippine businesses in the UAE continues to grow, driven by the UAE’s strategic location and its advanced logistics, financial, and business ecosystem. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement is expected to further accelerate this trend by creating new opportunities in sectors such as food and agriculture, healthcare, financial services, and digital technologies.
• At the institutional level, Dubai Chambers opened its representative office in Manila in April 2026 to facilitate trade and strengthen business connectivity between the two countries. The Philippines has also deepened its integration with regional capital markets through the listing of its inaugural USD 1 billion sovereign sukuk issuance on Nasdaq Dubai, further reinforcing financial and investment ties between the two nations.

The UAE and the Republic of the Philippines invest their decades-long and very close people-to-people ties. The large Filipino community in the UAE contributes to spreading Filipino culture in the UAE, which sponsors many Filipino cultural activities and events throughout the country.

The UAE Embassy in Manila organizes cultural activities aiming at building bridges between peoples of both countries.

Cultural bonds between the two countries have been reflected during the Philippines participation in “EXPO 2020 Dubai”, where the Philippines pavilion received more than one million visitors. The Pavilion, the biggest for the Philippines in the history of Expo, hosted many events and meetings between officials of both countries.

In celebration with its fifth anniversary in 2022, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum started, for the first time, exhibiting 10th century gold artifacts from the Philippines, a step celebrated by both countries, showing keenness on more cultural engagement.

On 26 November 2024, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the UAE Ministry of Culture and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Republic of the Philippines, in the presence of First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines. This MoU will enhance cultural exchange in the fields of literature, heritage and creative industries, and open new horizons for cooperation that serve the culture of both countries and contribute to strengthening the ties between the two peoples.

On June 2025, The Louvre Abu Dhabi received the Philippine National Cultural Treasure, the iconic oil painting titled "Woman from Bulacan" by Filipino artist Juan Luna. The unveiling ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, , where the painting will remain on display at the museum for one year until June 2026, giving visitors a unique opportunity to delve into Philippine identity, history and artistic expression.