Marcos to go to Abu Dhabi to meet UAE president on Nov. 26

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will travel to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, November 26, for a one-day working visit, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Saturday.

Marcos will meet with UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday afternoon.

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Ambassador Alfonso A. Ver told GMA News Online that the visit “marks a significant and symbolic milestone in the history of our relations, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the UAE.''

The Palace said it is hopeful agreements will be forged during Marcos' visit.

"It is expected that these productive dialogues will lead to agreements that will deepen the ties between the two countries, forging areas of cooperation that mutually harness their shared values and common interests," the PCO said in a statement.

The Palace said Marcos will also convey to the UAE government the country's gratitude for tapping Filipino talent, "allowing it to flourish in an environment that fosters kindness, respect, and tolerance."

Ver said the bilateral relations have reached a “historic high,” having expanded to “new and innovative forms of cooperation” like space science, agriculture, investment promotion and protection, digital infrastructure, economic and technical cooperation, joint consular assistance and support, and labor and combating human trafficking, among others.

Though Marcos will just have a lean party — "the barest minimum" — with him on the short visit, "the goodwill and opportunities it will create will be substantial, resulting in stronger Philippine-UAE relations," the PCO added.

Marcos asked the Filipino community in UAE for understanding as he has to fly back to Manila immediately to focus on overseeing the relief and reconstruction activities in areas devastated by the six recent typhoons and storms (Kristine, Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito). —with a report from Jojo Dass/KG/VBL, GMA Integrated News