Dubai Chambers hosted Louise Araneta-Marcos, First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines, at its headquarters to explore opportunities for deepening cooperation between the emirate and the Philippine business communities. The visit comes amid growing trade and investment ties, with non-oil bilateral trade reaching AED 3.1 billion ($844 million) in 2024. Moreover, during the first nine months of 2025, 653 Philippine companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, raising the total active membership from the Philippines to 2,508 by September.
Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, and Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO, attended the meeting. Al Mansoori stated, “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.”
Promoting Dubai as a global business hub
During the meeting, Dubai Chambers presented the emirate’s strategic advantages, highlighting potential areas for collaboration and the benefits available to Philippine companies. Additionally, the Chamber reviewed past initiatives, including a trade mission to the Philippines last year that involved 17 private sector companies across various industries. As part of this mission, 180 bilateral business meetings were facilitated to foster partnerships, expand relations, and identify new cross-border opportunities.
Dubai Chambers also hosted the “Doing Business with the Philippines” forum in Manila, attended by 314 participants. On the sidelines of the event, the Chamber signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This agreement aims to strengthen bilateral trade relations and explore new avenues for cooperation, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for business and investment.
Strategic outlook for bilateral trade
Al Mansoori emphasized that Dubai Chambers remains committed to expanding international economic partnerships and identifying strategic opportunities that advance mutual growth. Consequently, these initiatives are expected to provide Philippine companies with enhanced access to regional and global markets, further integrating the two business communities and fostering sustainable economic collaboration.
