ABU DHABI // The UAE has signed an agreement with the Philippines that will improve relations between the countries. The move follows the UAE visit of the Philippines’ foreign affairs secretary, Albert del Rosario, last week.
The memorandum of understanding on political consultations was signed by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr del Rosario.
“I am elated that we were able to move our relations with the UAE a notch higher,” said Grace Princesa, the Philippine ambassador to the UAE. “The MoU is a significant step in UAE-Philippine relations.”
Both countries have agreed to work on an agreement creating a joint committee for co-operation on economic, commercial, judicial, security and cultural fields, among others.
The second agreement is a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports to promote an exchange of visits.
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and the Philippines were established in 1980.
Mr del Rosario took the opportunity to express his government’s appreciation for the UAE’s initiatives to improve the conditions of Filipinos, the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, the pending law to provide better protection to domestic workers in the Emirates, and efforts to reach an agreement on a standardised contract for these workers.
“The UAE has been co-operative on the issue of domestic workers,” Ms Princesa said.
Sheikh Abdullah and his Philippine counterpart exchanged views on various issues of regional importance and the state of their bilateral relations.
The addition of flights between the UAE and the Philippines and the entry of Philippine carriers Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific are seen to enhance trade, tourism and people-to-people links, according to Mr del Rosario.
“We look forward to participating in the Abu Dhabi Festival in March and in other cultural and tourism festivals in the UAE,” Ms Princesa said. “For the next two years of my stay here in the UAE, I hope there would be more bilateral agreements beyond labour relations.”
rruiz@thenational.ae
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Napoleon
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
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