President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines on Wednesday morning following a “short but productive” working visit to the United Arab Emirates.
Marcos arrived at 10 a.m. and announced that his visit paved the way for several key bilateral agreements between Manila and Abu Dhabi.
“I look forward to the implementation of several bilateral agreements in culture, energy transition, legal cooperation, artificial intelligence and the digital economy, improving government activities, visa waivers for diplomatic passport holders, and investment cooperation,” Marcos said in his arrival statement.
During his meeting with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Marcos conveyed his gratitude for the UAE government’s care and respect for the Filipino community. Sheikh Mohamed, in turn, praised Filipinos for their significant contributions to the development of the UAE.
The Philippine president also expressed his thanks for the UAE’s continued humanitarian aid to victims of natural calamities in the Philippines.
Marcos noted that his visit was cut short to prioritize relief and reconstruction efforts for communities affected by recent tropical cyclones. “I also conveyed appreciation for the UAE Government’s constant humanitarian support for victims of these natural calamities,” he said.
Before departing, Marcos extended an invitation to Sheikh Mohamed to visit the Philippines, aiming to continue their dialogue and explore additional areas of cooperation.
