Philippines Eyes UAE Investments in Clean Energy, Digital Infrastructure
- January 27, 2026
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The Philippines is strengthening its ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as it seeks to attract large-scale investments in renewable energy and digital infrastructure, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced following a recent high-level visit to Abu Dhabi.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said two UAE-based firms—Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) and Damac Digital—expressed strong interest in establishing major projects in the country during meetings with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and business leaders earlier this month.
Major Renewable Energy Push
Masdar, the UAE’s state-owned clean energy company, is exploring the development of a large-scale renewable energy project in the Philippines, with three possible sites identified in Bohol province. Roque said the firm is open to various investment models, from financing and management to full operations, and is currently looking for additional local partners.
The initiative builds on previous agreements between Masdar, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Board of Investments under Project Luntian, which aims to deliver up to 10 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity in the country by 2035.
Masdar, which operates clean energy projects in over 40 countries, is targeting a global renewable portfolio of 100 GW by 2030, covering solar, wind, green hydrogen, and energy storage technologies. Its planned Philippine venture is part of that expansion and aligns with the government’s targets to raise renewable energy’s share in the power mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
Roque said renewable energy and related infrastructure remain among the country’s top investment priorities, reflecting its goal to become a “regional hub for clean-energy investment.” She noted that accelerating renewable deployment supports growing electricity demand, energy security, and the broader clean-energy ecosystem.
Data Center Project
Meanwhile, Damac Digital, a Dubai-based data center developer, is eyeing Laguna as the potential site for a 250-megawatt hyperscale data center, which is touted to be the largest in the Philippines once completed.
If realized, it would be Damac’s third data center in Asia, after facilities in Thailand and Indonesia, and its fourth outside the Middle East. The project is currently in the incorporation stage, according to the DTI.
Broader Economic Cooperation
The investment prospects emerged during the Philippine delegation’s visit to the UAE from January 12 to 14, during which both countries signed the Philippines–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation.
The CEPA is expected to strengthen bilateral trade, enhance cross-border business activity, and promote long-term investment flows in priority sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and technology.
The Philippines’ deepening engagement with the UAE underscores its strategy to diversify energy sources while attracting strategic capital from Gulf economies pursuing global clean-energy expansion.
Source:
https://business.inquirer.net/569397/uae-firms-keen-on-ph-energy-data-center-ventures
