Marilyn Cahatol

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his speech during the departure ceremony at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City as he embarks on a State Visit to the Republic of India from August 4 to 8, 2025.
Presidential Communications Office

Article (news)

MARCOS

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday left the Philippines for a 3-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to witness the signing of trade and defense deals between the two countries, and participate in a sustainability summit in Emerati capital Abu Dhabi.Marcos Jr.’s plane took off at 6:30 p.m., Malacañang said in a statement, noting that only a small delegation accompanied the President to his trip to the middle eastern country.“During the visit, the Philippines and the UAE are expected to sign several important agreements, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA),” according to a statement from the Palace.The CEPA is expected to expand cooperation in trade, services, and investments, and  provide the Philippines greater access to the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the statement read.“The signing of these two agreements is a testament to the deep bilateral ties between our two countries, and more importantly, between Filipinos and Emiratis,” Marcos Jr. said in his departure message.“Any mutually beneficial arrangement between our two nations will not only benefit Filipinos at home, but also Filipinos in the UAE,” Marcos Jr.  said, noting that the Gulf country is home to some 900,000 Filipinos. “I am confident that upon my return, I will bring good news on the new heights of our friendship and collaboration with the UAE, as well as on the shared vision and strategy with our global partners on sustainability, for the benefit of the Filipino people,” he said.On the other hand, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation between Manila and Abu Dhabi that will be signed during Marcos Jr.’s visit will enhance defense cooperation between the two countries, including joint training, exchange of officers, and information sharing, said Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver. “Kasi they also have very highly developed defense capabilities here that we can benefit from. Like we also have a security agreement with them,” he said in an interview with Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM).“So, iba na ang level natin. It’s all expanding into previously untapped na hindi natin—kasi nga of course the focus is on our workers. Now we see that we’ve elevated our relations,” he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/8/marcos-to-travel-to-abu-dhabi-uae-on-january-12-for-sustainability-event-1225">Marcos to travel to UAE on January 12 for sustainability event, trade and defense pacts</a></div>The two countries are also looking at cooperation on the fields of “artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and the digital economy – sectors where the Philippines has growing strengths and competitive advantages,” Malacañang said.The Filipino President’s trip to the Middle Eastern country comes upon the invitation of the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.“This is the second [meeting] in about 14 months… So in a short span of time, dalawang beses sila magkikita with His Highness the President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE,” Ver said.“Before that, it was 15 years bago ulit nagka-visit, so tapos biglang magkasunod. Symbolically and substantively, ang laki nung ibig sabihin noon,” the diplomat said.During the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Marcos Jr. will join other 12 to 13 other world leaders and policymakers in discussions to “address climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable economic development.” “The forum will endeavor to find solutions to the challenges of the present and of the future, to which a unified approach by the community of nations is required,” Marcos Jr. said “The Philippines will actively participate in the dialogues to find answers to the complex and interconnected issues on energy, water, finance, food, and the environment, and expects to gain valuable insights from the views of other world leaders,” he said. “As we start the new year, the Philippines will further pursue its goal to forge collaborations with new partners who share our vision of a sustainable world, and will endeavor to further enrich our relationships with other important partners.” Marcos Jr. will meet with several business leaders and meet with the Filipino community on the sidelines of the summit in Abu Dhabi.Meantime, First Lady Liza Marcos flew ahead of the President to the UAE to participate in the Philippine government’s “Serbisyo Caravan” for overseas Filipino workers.“Ang serbisyo caravan ay higit pa sa pagproseso ng mga dokumento, ito ay pagpaparamdam ng kalinga ng pamahalaan at pagsusulong ng kalusugan at kapakanan ng mga migranteng manggagawa,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.“Mahigit isang daang pasyenteng OFW ang naserbisyohan  sa serbisyo caravan kabilang ang mga pasyenteng  lumalaban sa cancer,” she said.“Naghatid din ang e-government services, ang DICT serbisyo caravan gaya ng OFW, para sa e-Gov ph App, online employment contract verification at Kumusta Kabayan App,” she added.The First Lady also met with business leaders and Filipino community leaders over the weekend to help strengthen partnerships in the Gulf country, Castro said.While Marcos Jr. is out of the country, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian will serve as the country’s official caretakers, she said.<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h2UobXv64kI?si=EfNoapaHyjuktYTM" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday left the Philippines for a 3-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to witness the signing of trade and defense deals between the two countries, and participate in a sustainability summit in Emerati capital Abu Dhabi.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday left the Philippines for a 3-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is expected to witness the signing of trade and defense deals between the two countries, and participate in a sustainability summit in Emerati capital Abu Dhabi.

Marcos Jr. travels to UAE for trade, defense deals, sustainability summit

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Marcos Jr. travels to UAE for trade, defense deals, sustainability summit

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 12, 2026 06:53 PM PHT

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Updated January 12, 2026 07:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Liza Marcos

United Arab Emirates

UAE

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

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