Dubai: Dubai International Chamber, which operates under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has inaugurated a new representative office in Manila. This strategic move aims to bolster bilateral trade and investment relations between Dubai and the Philippines.
According to Emirates News Agency, the office was launched at a special inauguration event in Manila, attended by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, over 100 attendees, senior officials, and prominent Filipino business community representatives. Notable figures present included Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers; Mohamed Obaid Salem Al Qatam Alzaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines; and Ma. Anna Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines to the UAE for Trade and Investments.
Lootah emphasized that the opening of the Manila office demonstrates their commitment to enhancing economic relations between the two regions and fostering cooperation between their business communities. He noted that the office would assist Filipino companies in exploring opportunities in Dubai, benefiting from the emirate's favorable business environment as a gateway for growth.
This inauguration comes amid significant growth in bilateral business relations, with non-oil trade between Dubai and the Philippines reaching AED3.58 billion in 2025, marking a 17 percent increase compared to 2024. By the end of December 2025, 2,592 companies from the Philippines were registered as active members of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, showing a year-over-year growth of 23.3 percent. In 2025 alone, 856 new Filipino companies joined the chamber.
The launch follows a successful trade mission to the Philippines organized by Dubai Chamber of Commerce in May 2025, involving 17 Dubai-based private sector companies and resulting in 180 bilateral business meetings. The mission included a forum titled 'Doing Business with the Philippines,' attended by 314 participants, where Dubai Chambers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enhance cooperation and explore new collaboration avenues.
This momentum continued with the visit of First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos to Dubai Chambers' headquarters in January, underscoring the strong relationship between the two markets and exploring ways to deepen bilateral ties.
The representative office in Manila will collaborate with the Filipino business community to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders while highlighting Dubai's competitive advantages as a leading global business destination. It will provide market intelligence to help Filipino companies establish a presence in Dubai and leverage the emirate for international growth.
Additionally, the office will support Dubai-based companies seeking to expand into the Philippines by offering market insights, identifying commercial and investment opportunities, and connecting them with trusted local partners to facilitate smooth market entry and successful growth of their operations.