By Brian Campued
The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates signed several bilateral agreements following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “short but highly productive” working visit to the Gulf State on Tuesday.
Marcos and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed deals covering areas such as culture, energy transition, legal cooperation, artificial intelligence and digital economy, improvement of government activities, visa waiver for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, as well as investment cooperation.
In his arrival statement Wednesday, the President expressed optimism about the successful implementation of the agreements, reaffirming the strong bilateral ties between the two countries.
“I expressed the appreciation of the Philippines for the UAE government’s care and respect for the Filipino community in the UAE. In response, the UAE President commended the Filipino people for their contributions towards UAE’s development,” the Chief Executive said.
During his working visit, Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening its relationship with the UAE by exploring new areas for collaboration, including trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
The President also thanked the UAE government for pardoning Filipino inmates during this year’s Eid al-Adha and for its humanitarian aid to victims of recent calamities in the Philippines.
In response, Marcos said Al Nahyan commended the Filipino people for their contributions toward UAE’s development.
“I thanked Sheikh Al Nahyan for understanding that my visit had to be cut short, given the need to attend relief and reconstruction activities in communities devastated by successive typhoons,” the Chief Executive said.
“I also conveyed appreciation for the UAE Government’s constant humanitarian support for victims of these natural calamities,” he added.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Marcos reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to resolving maritime issues through the rule of law and adherence to international agreements as well as the administration’s peace efforts and maintaining economic stability.
The Chief Executive, likewise, cited Dubai’s success in diversifying its economy beyond oil as an inspiration for Manila to also focus on services and tourism as key growth drivers.
Marcos’ one-day working visit to the UAE coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the UAE, which were established on Aug. 19, 1974.
—iro