President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed have concluded their official state visit to Bahrain and returned back to the Maldives. The visit was made at the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
President Solih and First Lady Fazna arrived in Bahrain on October 5 and inspected a guard of honour accorded to them by the Bahrain Defence Force. The president and the first lady were received by King Hamad at Al-Qudaibiya Palace on October 6, where the two leaders engaged in bilateral discussions. The president also held talks with Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister of Bahrain.
Furthermore, four key agreements were signed between the Maldives and Bahrain as part of the official state visit, with President Solih and King Hamad presiding over the ceremony. Prior to the signing ceremony, they met one-on-one at the Al-Qudaibiya Palace.
During the visit, cabinet ministers and senior officials from both countries engaged in bilateral discussions. In addition, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives Abdulla Shahid and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani held a joint press conference. A luncheon was hosted by King Hamad in honour of the president, the first lady and the visiting Maldivian delegation.
President Solih also visited the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and met with Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company. He later hosted a dinner reception for the president, the first lady, and the visiting Maldivian delegation. President Solih also met with the senior management of Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco).
As part of the State Visit, First Lady Fazna Ahmed met with Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the wife of the King of Bahrain and the President of the Supreme Council for Women. She also met with Hala Mohammed Jaber Al Ansari, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women of Bahrain. In addition, she visited the King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) and the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (DANAT). The president and the first lady also toured the Bahrain National Museum and Beit Al-Quran Facility.
It is the first time a Maldivian Head of State made a state visit to Bahrain.