Philippine President To Visit UAE Next Week On First Overseas Trip In 2026

The Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will start a working visit to the UAE on Monday, January 12, the Asian country's state news agency reported on Thursday, citing the Philippine presidency.

Marcos' visit, which will be his first overseas trip in 2026, will focus on sustainability and economic cooperation. According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, Marcos plans to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a global platform that brings together world leaders to discuss solutions to pressing environmental and development challenges. The event is set to take place from January 11 to January 15 in the UAE Capital.

She added that the visit is at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In November 2024, Marcos became the first Filipino head of state to visit the UAE in more than 15 years. The last time a Philippine president came to the country was in December 2008 during the time of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

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During that visit, Marcos met with Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Aside from multilateral engagements during his upcoming visit to the UAE, Marcos is also expected to witness the signing of two major agreements between the Philippines and the UAE, which are the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation.

The CEPA will be the Philippines' first free trade agreement with a Middle Eastern country, aimed at expanding the Philippine market's access to the region.

Meanwhile, the defence cooperation agreement is expected to strengthen the collaboration between Manila and Abu Dhabi in developing defence technologies and capabilities.

More than 660,000 Filipinos work in the UAE, and over 500,000 tourists come in annually from the Philippines.

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