Marcos welcomes UAE delegation, cites strong bilateral ties
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. welcomes UAE Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah in Malacañan on Sept. 18, 2025. (Malacañang photo)
President Marcos welcomed an official delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace, highlighting Manila’s deepening partnership with Abu Dhabi.
The group, led by UAE Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah, visited Manila from Sept. 16 to 18 for the Philippines–UAE Government Experience Exchange Forum, which aims to share best governance practices and strengthen institutional cooperation.
During their meeting in Malacañan on Thursday, Sept. 18, the President thanked the UAE for its continued support of overseas Filipino workers and for engaging the Philippines in joint undertakings that he described as “mutually beneficial.”
“It was a pleasure to welcome Deputy Minister Abdulla Nasser Lootah and the UAE delegation as they concluded the Philippines–UAE Government Experience Exchange Forum,” Marcos wrote on a Facebook post.
“We are grateful to the UAE for its continued support of our Filipino workers and for being a true partner in building smarter, future-ready governments. Through shared knowledge and collaboration, we are creating meaningful change for our people,” he added.
The UAE delegation, accompanied by UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi and other senior officials, underscored its desire to expand bilateral cooperation.
Lootah even called the Philippines an extremely important partner in the region.
“Lootah expressed the UAE government's interest to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and the UAE, underscoring its extreme importance,” the Palace said.
The two sides also reaffirmed the importance of developing innovative and future-ready governments, with the forum serving as a venue to exchange expertise in governance, competitiveness, and public service delivery.
Organized by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, the forum is expected to further capacitate government personnel from both countries.
The UAE is host to more than 600,000 Filipinos, and remittances from the Gulf state remain among the highest worldwide.