The UAE and the Republic of the Philippines invest their decades-long and very close people-to-people ties. The large Filipino community in the UAE contributes to spreading Filipino culture in the UAE, which sponsors many Filipino cultural activities and events throughout the country.
The UAE Embassy in Manila organizes cultural activities aiming at building bridges between peoples of both countries.
Cultural bonds between the two countries have been reflected during the Philippines participation in “EXPO 2020 Dubai”, where the Philippines pavilion received more than one million visitors. The Pavilion, the biggest for the Philippines in the history of Expo, hosted many events and meetings between officials of both countries.
In celebration with its fifth anniversary in 2022, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum started, for the first time, exhibiting 10th century gold artifacts from the Philippines, a step celebrated by both countries, showing keenness on more cultural engagement.
On 26 November 2024, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the UAE Ministry of Culture and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Republic of the Philippines, in the presence of First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines. This MoU will enhance cultural exchange in the fields of literature, heritage and creative industries, and open new horizons for cooperation that serve the culture of both countries and contribute to strengthening the ties between the two peoples.
On June 2025, The Louvre Abu Dhabi received the Philippine National Cultural Treasure, the iconic oil painting titled "Woman from Bulacan" by Filipino artist Juan Luna. The unveiling ceremony was attended by His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, , where the painting will remain on display at the museum for one year until June 2026, giving visitors a unique opportunity to delve into Philippine identity, history and artistic expression.
