President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. began his short working trip to Abu Dhabi with internal coordination, convening Cabinet members over a working breakfast shortly after arriving in the UAE capital late Monday night.
According to Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, the President landed in Abu Dhabi at 11:09 p.m. local time. She said his schedule for the one-day visit was tightly arranged, starting early the next morning with a meeting among senior officials traveling with him. “Punong-puno ang schedule ng Pangulo sa pagbisita nito sa Abu Dhabi. Kaninang umaga ay sinimulan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang kanyang araw at pinulong ang kanyang gabinete sa isang working breakfast,” Castro said during a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
The Philippine delegation includes the heads of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Finance, and Department of Information and Communications Technology, along with Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver.
While in Abu Dhabi, Marcos is scheduled to meet Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center and to deliver a keynote address at the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. His agenda also includes a business meeting with DAMAC Digital and an engagement with members of the Filipino community in the emirate.
Castro stressed the official nature of the trip, saying, “Hindi bakasyon at pang-sarili ang pagpunta sa Abu Dhabi, trabaho at negosyo, pambansang interes at seguridad. Ilan lamang iyan sa patuloy na isinusulong ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. para mas maginhawa at maunlad na bagong Pilipinas.”
During the visit, Marcos is also expected to sign a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation with the UAE.
