Marie Louise 'Liza' Araneta-Marcos, the wife of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is scheduled to meet with leaders of the Filipino expat community on Saturday morning at a hotel in Downtown Dubai. According to an invitation from the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai to Khaleej Times, the event will have 'strict access' and only pre-registered individuals will be permitted to enter the venue. No additional details regarding the agenda or attendees accompanying the Philippine First Lady from Manila were provided.
This visit by Mrs. Araneta-Marcos follows a recent work visit to Manila by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his visit, he met with President Marcos at Malacanang Palace to discuss bilateral relations and avenues for enhanced cooperation. Mrs. Araneta-Marcos was also present to greet Sheikh Abdullah in Manila.
The Philippines and the UAE are commemorating 50 years of diplomatic and bilateral relations, which were established on August 19, 1974. Filipino expats in the UAE are eager to welcome a sitting Philippine president, a visit that has not occurred since December 2008 when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was in office.
Marcos Jr. was initially scheduled to visit the UAE in November last year for COP28 but canceled his trip at the last minute due to 'important developments' in a hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea. He was also slated to meet the Filipino community at the Dubai World Trade Centre, which would have marked the first such meeting by a Philippine president in the UAE in 15 years.
