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Advocates Philippines
Philippines Signs First Middle East Free Trade Deal With UAE
Photo credit: PCO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed a historic moment on Tuesday as the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed their first-ever free trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), during his working visit to Abu Dhabi.
The signing took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 Summit. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan joined President Marcos in witnessing the event, while the agreement was signed on behalf of the Philippines by Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.
“This marks a milestone in expanding the Philippines’ global trade footprint,” officials said, highlighting the agreement as the country’s first FTA with a Middle Eastern nation.
The CEPA is designed to reduce tariffs, increase market access for goods and services, and encourage investment flows, creating new opportunities for Filipino professionals and service providers in the UAE. Strategic sectors covered include digital trade, MSMEs, sustainable development, intellectual property, government procurement, and technical cooperation.
Exports expected to benefit include bananas, pineapples, canned tuna, electronics, and machinery. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached nearly US$1.83 billion in 2024, with the UAE ranking 18th among the Philippines’ trading partners and accounting for 39 percent of Philippine exports to the Middle East. Preliminary studies suggest the CEPA could boost exports to the UAE by over 9 percent while generating consumer savings and strengthening trade links in the Gulf region.
On services, the agreement guarantees a stable, non-discriminatory environment for Filipino firms, including MSMEs, in sectors like IT-BPM, tourism, healthcare, education, construction, and professional services.
The CEPA complements existing Philippine trade agreements with Japan, South Korea, the EU, ASEAN partners, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), while reinforcing bilateral deals on investment, energy, logistics, innovation, and tourism with the UAE.
Also present during the signing were First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Finance Acting Secretary Frederick Go, and Special Envoy to the UAE for Trade and Investment Kathryna Yu-Pimentel.
The ceremony was followed by a brief meeting between the two leaders — their second engagement since November 2024 — signaling a deepening partnership between Manila and Abu Dhabi.
The signing took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 Summit. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan joined President Marcos in witnessing the event, while the agreement was signed on behalf of the Philippines by Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque.
“This marks a milestone in expanding the Philippines’ global trade footprint,” officials said, highlighting the agreement as the country’s first FTA with a Middle Eastern nation.
The CEPA is designed to reduce tariffs, increase market access for goods and services, and encourage investment flows, creating new opportunities for Filipino professionals and service providers in the UAE. Strategic sectors covered include digital trade, MSMEs, sustainable development, intellectual property, government procurement, and technical cooperation.
Exports expected to benefit include bananas, pineapples, canned tuna, electronics, and machinery. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached nearly US$1.83 billion in 2024, with the UAE ranking 18th among the Philippines’ trading partners and accounting for 39 percent of Philippine exports to the Middle East. Preliminary studies suggest the CEPA could boost exports to the UAE by over 9 percent while generating consumer savings and strengthening trade links in the Gulf region.
On services, the agreement guarantees a stable, non-discriminatory environment for Filipino firms, including MSMEs, in sectors like IT-BPM, tourism, healthcare, education, construction, and professional services.
The CEPA complements existing Philippine trade agreements with Japan, South Korea, the EU, ASEAN partners, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), while reinforcing bilateral deals on investment, energy, logistics, innovation, and tourism with the UAE.
Also present during the signing were First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Finance Acting Secretary Frederick Go, and Special Envoy to the UAE for Trade and Investment Kathryna Yu-Pimentel.
The ceremony was followed by a brief meeting between the two leaders — their second engagement since November 2024 — signaling a deepening partnership between Manila and Abu Dhabi.
Jan 13, 2026
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