The Dubai World Chamber, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has opened a new representative office in the Philippine capital, Manila, aimed at enhancing trade and investment relations between Dubai and the Republic of the Philippines. The office opening was held at a special ceremony in Manila, attended by the First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines, Louise Araneta Marcos; His Excellency Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, Director General of Dubai Chambers; His Excellency Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of the Philippines; and Her Excellency Anna Kathrina Yu Bimintel, the Philippine President's Special Envoy to the UAE for Trade and Investment. Over 100 officials and representatives of the Philippine business community participated. His Excellency Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah stated that the opening of the Dubai World Chamber's office in Manila embodies our commitment to strengthening economic relations between Dubai and the Philippines, developing new avenues for bilateral business cooperation, by enhancing its vital role in supporting Philippine companies to leverage the opportunities Dubai offers and the competitive advantages of the emirate's advanced business environment for launch and expansion. We look forward to elevating investment and trade links to achieve mutual interests. The office opening comes against the backdrop of a notable growth in bilateral trade relations, where the value of non-oil trade between Dubai and the Philippines reached 3.58 billion dirhams in 2025, a 17% increase compared to 2024. Meanwhile, 856 new Philippine companies joined Dubai Chamber membership last year, an annual growth of 5.9%, bringing the total number of active Philippine companies registered with the Chamber to 2,592 by the end of 2025, a 23.3% annual increase. Dubai Chamber had organized a trade mission to the Philippines in May 2025, involving representatives from 17 Dubai-based companies, which resulted in over 180 bilateral business meetings. During the mission, the Chamber also hosted a 'Doing Business with the Philippines' business forum in Manila with 314 attendees and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enhance cooperation and joint work, elevate bilateral trade relations, and explore new avenues for cooperation between the business communities in Dubai and the Philippines. In January of this year, Dubai Chambers hosted the First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines, Louise Araneta Marcos, at its headquarters to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, developing joint work, and exploring promising opportunities for cooperation between Dubai and the Philippines across various business sectors. The new representative office will play a vital role in supporting companies in both Dubai and the Philippines, working closely with the Philippine business community to enhance relations with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, as well as to promote the competitive advantages that make Dubai a global business destination. The office will also provide valuable market information on Dubai to support Philippine companies seeking to establish a presence in the emirate and expand into global markets. The office will support companies based in Dubai expanding into the Philippines, including providing them with valuable insights into the Philippine market, helping them identify potential trade and investment opportunities, and connecting them with trusted local partners to facilitate their entry into this market and expand their operations with confidence and ease.
