Dubai Chambers has welcomed Louise Araneta-Marcos, First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines, to its headquarters, as both sides explored ways to strengthen bilateral ties and deepen cooperation between the the emirate and Philippine business communities.
The visit comes as trade and investment ties between Dubai and the Philippines continue to expand.
Non-oil bilateral trade reached AED3.1bn ($844m) in 2024.
During the first nine months of 2025, a total of 653 Philippine companies joined Dubai Chamber of Commerce, bringing the total number of active members from the Philippines to 2,508 by the end of September last year.
Dubai trade with Philippines
The meeting was attended by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, and Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers.
Al Mansoori said: “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.
“We are committed to supporting Philippine companies and enabling them to expand regionally and internationally by leveraging Dubai’s competitive advantages, including its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and business-friendly environment.
“Dubai Chambers remains committed to strengthening international economic partnerships, expanding trade cooperation, and identifying strategic opportunities that advance mutual growth, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for business and investment.”
During the meeting, Dubai Chambers delivered a presentation outlining Dubai’s strategic advantages as a global business hub, highlighting potential areas for cooperation between Dubai and the Philippines, as well as the competitive benefits the emirate offers to Philippine companies.
The Chamber of Commerce also organised a trade mission to the Philippines last year. The delegation included representatives from 17 private sector companies across a range of industries.
As part of the mission, the chamber facilitated 180 bilateral business meetings between companies from emirate and their Philippine counterparts to explore cooperation opportunities, expand business relations, and establish new cross-border partnerships.
The chamber additionally hosted a forum in Manila titled Doing Business with the Philippines, attended by 314 participants. On the sidelines of the event, the Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen bilateral trade relations and identify new avenues for cooperation between the two business communities.
