Marcos returns from UAE with economic deals, worker support

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. returned to Manila on Wednesday morning after a successful one-day working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Marcos' plane landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City around 10 a.m., following meetings with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

During his trip, Marcos discussed areas of cooperation in the economy, trade, and sustainability, reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, and expressed appreciation for the UAE's care and respect for Filipino workers there.

The president noted that several agreements were reached in sectors such as culture, energy transition, legal cooperation, artificial intelligence, digital economy, visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders, and investment cooperation.

Marcos also thanked Al Nahyan for pardoning 143 Filipinos during this year's Eid al-Adha and for UAE’s humanitarian aid to victims of recent flooding in the Philippines.