Dubai: Dubai International Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has inaugurated a new international representative office in Manila. This move aims to strengthen trade and investment ties between Dubai and the Philippines. The office was officially launched during a special event in Manila in the presence of First Lady of the Philippines Louise Araneta-Marcos, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Salem Al Qatam Alzaabi, and Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines to the UAE for Trade and Investments Anna Kathryna Yu-Pimentel. The event attracted over 100 attendees, including senior officials and leading representatives of the Filipino business community. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah stated: 'The opening of our office in Manila reflects our commitment to strengthening economic relations between Dubai and the Philippines and creating new paths for cooperation between the business communities in both markets.' This strategic step comes as part of the chamber's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations between Dubai and the Philippines. In 2025, 856 new Filipino companies joined the chamber, an increase of 5.9% compared to the previous year. The launch builds on the outcomes of a trade mission to the Philippines organized by Dubai Chamber of Commerce in May 2025, which featured representatives from 17 Dubai-based private sector companies and resulted in 180 bilateral business meetings. The new office will also provide valuable market intelligence to help Filipino companies establish a presence in Dubai and leverage the emirate as a platform for international growth. Additionally, the office will support Dubai-based companies seeking to expand into the Philippines by offering expert market insights, identifying commercial and investment opportunities, and connecting them with trusted local partners to facilitate smooth market entry and the successful growth of their operations. The launch of the Manila office is part of the 'Dubai Global' initiative, which aims to establish 50 representative offices worldwide by 2030. During the forum, Dubai Chambers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enhance cooperation, strengthen trade relations, and explore new areas for collaboration. This momentum continued in January of this year when Dubai Chambers welcomed First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos at its headquarters. By the end of December 2025, a total of 2,592 companies from the Philippines were registered as active members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce, reflecting year-over-year growth of 23.3%. The initiative seeks to strengthen the emirate's position as a leading global business hub by attracting companies and foreign direct investment to Dubai and supporting the expansion of local companies into 30 priority markets worldwide. The value of non-oil trade between Dubai and the Philippines reached AED 3.58 billion in 2025, an increase of 17% compared to 2024. We look forward to further deepening trade and investments in ways that advance our shared interests and support mutual growth.'
