The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the country’s first free trade deal with a Middle Eastern nation, to expand market access, cut tariffs, and boost trade and investment.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 Summit.
The agreement is expected to benefit key Philippine exports such as bananas, pineapples, canned tuna, electronics, and machinery, and could raise Philippine exports to the UAE by 9.13 percent based on preliminary studies.
CEPA also opens more opportunities for Filipino professionals and service providers while covering strategic areas like digital trade, MSMEs, sustainable development, and intellectual property.
The deal strengthens the Philippines’ network of free trade agreements and builds on existing cooperation between the two countries in trade, energy, logistics, innovation, and tourism.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 14, 2026
