Philippine President Arroyo in Dubai for labour conference

Dubai: Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo arrived in Dubai for a conference on employment on Sunday.
Minister of Foreign Trade Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi received Arroyo at the airport.
Arroyo is meeting Filipino expatriates in Dubai and with Filipino journalists later on Sunday.

She had said her trip to Dubai aims to promote the interests of Filipinos in the UAE.

"The economy has been particularly difficult in Dubai but Philippine workers are still the most sought-after workers in the UAE," Arroyo said before the trip, adding, "I will be going there to champion our workers before the government and those firms that are hiring workers in Dubai."

She is expected to head back to Manila on Sunday evening.

On Saturday, Arroyo left Thailand and headed to Dubai early after protests forced the cancellation of a summit of Asian leaders there.