Discussions on expanding commercial cooperation between Dubai and the Philippines took place today as Louise Araneta-Marcos visited Dubai Chambers, with talks centered on trade, investment, and institutional collaboration.
The meeting brought together senior leadership from Dubai Chambers, including Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, its chairman, and Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, president and chief executive officer. Conversations focused on identifying practical areas where businesses from both sides could work more closely, supported by Dubai’s role as a regional commercial hub.
Al Mansoori said the visit underscored momentum in economic relations and noted that Dubai Chambers remains focused on assisting Philippine firms seeking to enter or expand within the emirate. “This visit represents an important step in strengthening the relationship between Dubai and the Philippines and creating new opportunities for cooperation between our business communities,” he said. He added that the organization is “committed to supporting Philippine companies.”
During the session, Dubai Chambers presented an overview of Dubai’s strategic positioning, infrastructure, and regulatory environment, while also outlining sectors where partnerships with Philippine enterprises could be developed.
The engagement comes against the backdrop of steady growth in bilateral activity. Non-oil trade between Dubai and the Philippines reached Dh3.1 billion in 2024. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, 653 Philippine companies joined Dubai Chamber of Commerce, raising the total number of active Philippine members to 2,508 as of the end of September.
Dubai Chamber of Commerce has also increased direct outreach to the Philippine market. Last year, it led a trade mission involving 17 Dubai-based private sector companies, arranging 180 business-to-business meetings with Philippine counterparts. In Manila, the chamber convened a “Doing Business with the Philippines” forum attended by 314 participants and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to expand avenues for cooperation between the two business communities.
