Philippines–Saudi Arabia relations
Map indicating locations of Philippines and Saudi Arabia

Philippines
Saudi Arabia
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of the Philippines, RiyadhEmbassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Makati
Envoy
Charge d' Affaires Rommel A. RomatoAmbassador Hisham Sultan Abdullah Alqahtani

Philippines–Saudi Arabia relations (Arabic: العلاقات السعودية الفلبينية) are the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia. Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on October 24, 1969.[1]

Both countries have embassies in each other's territory. The Philippines has an embassy in Riyadh, and a consulate-general in Jeddah.[2] Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Makati.[3]

Muslim pilgrims from the Philippines visit the cities of Mecca and Medina as part of the Hajj. In 2019, the Philippines was given a quota of 8,000 pilgrims.[4] The Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment of the National Commission of Muslim Affairs is responsible for administering and processing the travel requirements of Filipino pilgrims.[5]

Trade relations

President Rodrigo Duterte (left) meets with King Salman (right) during the former's state visit to the country in 2017.

Before Spain colonized the Philippines, there were the existence of several Precolonial Sultanates in the Philippines: such as, Sulu, Maguindanao, Lanao, and the capital called Manila (Former colony of the Brunei Sultanate); which had Sultans that could trace their descent to the prophet Mohammad, through Hashemites, Arabs who migrated to the Philippines.

In 2012, Saudi Arabia was the 10th largest trading partner of the Philippines, 31st and 8th largest market in the export and import market respectively. Saudi Arabia was also the Philippines' largest trading partner and import supplier, and second largest export market in the Middle East. According to the Saudi government, trade between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines amounted to $3.6 billion in 2011, a bigger figure from compared to the previous year's trade figure amounting to $2.7 billion.[6][7]

Labor relations

The Philippines maintains a Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh to protect the rights of Overseas Filipino Workers in Saudi Arabia.[8]

As of June 2013, there are about 674,000 Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia according to the Saudi Ministry of Interior. A landmark agreement on Filipino household service workers were signed between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. The agreement was the first for Saudi Arabia with a labor-supplying country.[7]

In 2012, about 150,000 Filipino female nurses are working in Saudi Arabia. This accounts for 25 percent of the total number of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Kingdom.[9]

In November 2021, the Philippines stopped processing the deployment of OFWs to Saudi Arabia amidst reports of unpaid salaries and allegations of abuse by a general. This ban was lifted on November 7, 2022.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Saudi Arabia". Philembassy-riyadh.org. Archived from the original on 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  2. ↑ "CONTACT US". Embassy of the Philippines Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Republic of the Philippines". Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Aben, Ellie (February 23, 2019). "Hajj now 'more affordable' for Muslim Filipinos". Arab News. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment". National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Philippines eyes stronger ties with KSA". Saudi Gazette. 2013-06-12. Archived from the original on 2013-12-29. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  7. 1 2 "Manila, Riyadh bilateral ties at their best | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more". Arabnews.com. 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  8. ↑ "LABOR ATTACHE / POLO / OWWA SERVICES". Embassy of the Philippines Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "Saudi role in restoring Philippine peace hailed". Saudi Gazette. 2012-09-30. Archived from the original on 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  10. ↑ Abad, Michelle (September 13, 2022). "Philippines lifting OFW deployment ban to Saudi Arabia in November". Rappler. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
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