The Dubai Chambers received Her Excellency Louise Araneta Marcos, the First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines, at its headquarters today to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and developing joint cooperation. Attending the meeting with the First Lady of the Philippines were Engineer Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Chambers, and Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, Director General of Dubai Chambers. Engineer Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Chambers, stated that the visit marks a significant milestone in the path of strengthening ties between Dubai and the Republic of the Philippines, contributing to the opening of new channels for cooperation between business communities. We are keen to support Filipino companies and empower them to expand into regional and international markets by leveraging the competitive advantages that Dubai offers, including its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and supportive investment and business environment. He added that Dubai Chambers continues its efforts to enhance international economic partnerships, expand the scope of trade cooperation, and explore strategic opportunities that contribute to mutual economic growth, thereby reinforcing Dubai's position as a leading global hub for business and investment. The meeting featured a comprehensive presentation highlighting Dubai's strategic advantages as a global business hub, potential areas of cooperation between Dubai and the Philippines, and the competitive advantages the emirate offers to Filipino companies. The visit comes amid growing trade and investment relations between Dubai and the Philippines. The value of non-oil bilateral trade reached AED 3.1 billion in 2024, while 653 Filipino companies joined the membership of Dubai Chamber of Commerce during the first nine months of 2025, bringing the total number of active Filipino companies registered with the chamber to 2,508 by the end of September last year. Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, had organized a trade mission to the Philippines last year with the participation of representatives from 17 private sector companies in Dubai across various sectors. During the mission, the chamber organized 180 bilateral business meetings between the mission's member companies and their Filipino counterparts to explore cooperation prospects, expand business operations, and forge new partnerships across all sectors. Furthermore, as part of the mission in Manila, the chamber organized a forum titled 'Doing Business with the Philippines' attended by 314 participants. On the sidelines of the forum, Dubai Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to elevate bilateral trade relations and explore new avenues for cooperation between the business communities of Dubai and the Philippines.
