Philippines signs free trade deal with UAE

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has signed a free trade agreement with United Arab Emirates (UAE), its first with a Middle Eastern country, Malacañang announced Tuesday, January 13.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, Malacañang said in a release, was signed on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 Summit.

Both Marcos and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing of the agreement. The two also held a brief meeting after the signing ceremony, said the Palace.

According to the Palace, the deal “aims to reduce tariffs, enhance market access for goods and services, increase investment flows, and create new opportunities for Filipino professionals and service providers in the UAE.”

The UAE hosts around 900,000 Filipinos.

The agreement “covers strategic sectors such as digital trade, MSMEs, sustainable development, intellectual property, competition and consumer protection, government procurement, and technical cooperation.”

While the Palace has yet to release a briefer on the agreement, it said Philippine “bananas, pineapples, canned tuna, electronics, machinery, and other high-demand products” are seen to benefit from the agreement.

Malacañang said that based on initial studies, the CEPA may “boost Philippine exports to the UAE by 9.13%, generate consumer savings, and strengthen overall trade linkages with the Gulf region.”

The UAE ranks 18th among Manila’s trade partners and is where around 39% of Philippine exports to the Middle East goes, according to government data. Bilateral trade between the Philippines and the UAE hit over $1.83 billion in 2024.

Marcos is in Abu Dhabi for a two-day visit to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week upon the invitation of the UAE president. He is joined by a delegation that includes First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Acting Finance Secretary Frederick Go, and Special Envoy to the UAE for Trade and Investment Kathryna Yu-Pimentel. – Rappler.com