Ten points in Phl-UAE partnership

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The participation of President Marcos in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 Summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a very good move. In particular, the signing of the Philippines-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is significant for the Philippines.

See also these recent reports in The Philippine Star: “Marcos to visit UAE on Jan. 12 to sign historic trade deal” (Jan. 8), “President Marcos leaves for UAE today” (Jan. 12), “Recto, DAR, DSWD secretaries named government caretakers” (Jan. 13), “Philippines, UAE sign trade agreement” (Jan. 14).

Here is my list of 10 beautiful points in the Philippines-UAE partnership.

One, UAE is among the richest countries in the world. Despite having a small population of only 11 million, its GDP size at current value in 2024 was 29th largest in the world with $537 billion, larger than the Philippines’ $461 billion. In GDP size at purchasing power parity (PPP) value, UAE has $848 billion, smaller than the Philippines’ $1.366 trillion. Per capita GDP at PPP, UAE has $77,100 in 2024, the 12th richest in the world (source: IMF, World Economic Outlook 2025).

Two, in foreign direct investments (FDI) in the Philippines in January-October 2025, UAE is the ninth largest source with $7.6 million, up from an outflow of $6.3 million in 2023 and $5.9 million in 2024 (source: BSP).

Three, in international trade UAE is our 19th argest export market in January-November 2025 with $422 million, up from $359 million same months of 2024. In imports, UAE is our 17th largest source in January-November 2025 with $1.33 billion, up from $1.30 billion same months of 2024 (source: PSA).

Four, UAE has six of the richest sovereign wealth funds (SWF) in the world. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is third with $1.129 trillion in assets, Investment Corporation of Dubai is 13th richest with $400 billion, Mubadala Investment Co. is 15th with $330 billion, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Co. is 16th with $251 billion, Emirates Investment Authority is 22nd with $102 billion and Dubai Investment Fund is 25th with $80 billion in assets (source: SWFI).

Our Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) is 90th with $2.2 billion in assets. MIF should be able to attract any of those six SWFs of UAE for co-investment in many infrastructure and energy projects in the Philippines.

Five, in oil reserves UAE is the eighth largest in the world with 97.8 billion barrels or 5.6 percent of total global oil reserves of 1.732 trillion barrels. In oil production UAE was the eighth largest in the world with four million barrels per day (mbpd) in 2024 or 4.1 percent of total world production of 96.9 mbpd (source: Energy Institute, Stat Review of World Energy, EI-SRWE 2025)

Six, in natural gas reserves UAE is the ninth largest in the world with 5.9 trillion cubic meters (tcm) or 3.1 percent of total global gas reserves of 188 tcm. In natural gas production, UAE was the 14th largest in the world with 61.4 billion cubic meters (bcm) or 1.5 percent of total global gas production of 4.124 tcm (source: EI-SRWE)

Seven, in nuclear power generation UAE is 12th largest in the world in 2024 with 40.6 terawatt-hours (TWh), the only Middle East country with huge nuclear power capacity (source: EI-SRWE). In 2025, UAE has 43.8 TWh from nuclear. The Philippines will go into nuclear power in the next decade and UAE should be among the models for using new large nuclear reactor plants.

Eight, UAE is home to some 900,000 overseas Filipino workers. Dubai alone has about 450,000 Filipinos. I have been to Dubai International Airport four times, in my trip for conference in France in 2023 and Spain in 2025, I was impressed by the huge number of Filipinos in many shops and restaurants there.

Nine, the Philippines-UAE CEPA will further reduce tariffs, enhance market access for goods and services, increase investment flows and create new opportunities for Filipino professionals and service providers in the UAE. The CEPA also covers sectors like digital trade, MSMEs, intellectual property, competition and consumer protection, nuclear safety. President Marcos and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing of the agreement on Jan. 13 (source: PCO).

CEPA is seen to benefit Philippine exports like bananas, pineapples, canned tuna, electronics, among others. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the free trade agreement could boost Philippine exports to the UAE by nine percent and enhance overall trade linkages with the Gulf region.

Ten, the Philippines’ new law, the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, which establishes the country’s first comprehensive framework for the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technology will help attract investments from UAE in energy, agribusiness, healthcare, manufacturing that utilize nuclear technology.

The CEPA will complement the Philippines’ other free trade agreements in many other countries in Asia. ASEAN is already a free trade zone among the 10 member-countries and the Philippines will chair the ASEAN Summit 2026. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto will be very busy not only as caretaker whenever the President goes abroad but also in coordinating hundreds of meetings related to the ASEAN summit.

Finally, the Philippines should be inspired by UAE’s wealth via fossil fuel development. Oil and gas are beautiful and useful commodities that give humanity not only gasoline, diesel and LPG but also many petrochemical products, from nylon, plastic, paint, varnish, polymers, fertilizers down to asphalt. Thus we should continue our country’s oil-gas exploration and development.