via GRAPHIC PLUS | Manila, Philippines – Dubai International Chamber has officially opened its first representative office in Manila on April 14, marking a strategic step to strengthen trade and investment ties between Dubai and the Philippines.
H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, stated: “The opening of our office in Manila reflects our commitment to strengthening economic relations between Dubai and the Philippines and creating new paths for cooperation between the business communities in both markets. The Philippines is one of Dubai’s fastest-growing trade partners in Southeast Asia, with non-oil trade reaching AED 3.58 billion in 2025 alone. This reflects the continued expansion of bilateral trade, which grew by 17% in 2025 compared to the previous year. The Manila office will support Filipino companies in exploring opportunities in Dubai and expanding their international presence.”
This growth is also reflected in the increasing presence of Filipino businesses in Dubai. By the end of December 2025, a total of 2,592 companies from the Philippines were registered as active members of Dubai Chamber of Commerce, reflecting year-over-year growth of 23.3%. During 2025, 856 new Filipino companies joined the chamber, an increase of 5.9% compared to the previous year.
Dubai International Chamber’s Manila office will serve as a platform to accelerate this momentum by working closely with public and private sector stakeholders to strengthen bilateral relations, provide market intelligence, forge partnerships, and support companies from both markets in growing their cross-border operations, while showcasing Dubai’s competitive advantages as a leading global business destination. It will also provide valuable market intelligence to help Filipino companies establish a presence in Dubai and leverage the emirate as a platform for international growth.
The office will also support Dubai-based companies seeking to enter the Philippine market by offering local market insights, identifying commercial and investment opportunities, and connecting them with trusted partners to enable efficient market entry and sustainable growth.
The Manila office was officially inaugurated during a launch event attended by over 100 senior government officials and business leaders, including Louise Araneta-Marcos, First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines, H.E. Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers; H.E. Mohamed Obaid Salem Al Qatam Alzaabi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Republic of the Philippines; and H.E. Ma. Anna Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines to the UAE for Trade and Investments.
The opening of the Manila office builds on the outcomes of a trade mission to the Philippines organized by Dubai Chamber of Commerce in May 2025. The mission featured representatives from 17 Dubai-based private sector companies and resulted in 180 bilateral business meetings.
As part of the mission, the chamber hosted the ‘Doing Business with the Philippines’ forum in Manila, which was attended by 314 participants. During the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen cooperation, enhance trade relations, and explore new areas for collaboration.
This momentum continued in January this year, when Dubai Chambers welcomed Louise Araneta-Marcos, First Lady of the Republic of the Philippines, to its headquarters in Dubai. The visit reflected the strength of bilateral ties and provided an opportunity to discuss ways to further deepen economic cooperation.
Dubai International Chamber is one of three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers and plays a key role in supporting the international expansion of businesses and attracting foreign direct investment.
The launch of the Manila office forms part of the ‘Dubai Global’ initiative, which aims to establish 50 representative offices worldwide by 2030 to strengthen Dubai’s position as a leading global business hub and support the expansion of companies into 30 priority markets.
