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HIS Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, expressed gratitude for the success of his four-day state visit to Saudi Arabia, which concluded smoothly and marked a historic moment in Malaysia–Saudi relations.
In a statement following his departure, His Majesty extended his appreciation to the Government of Saudi Arabia for the warm reception and hospitality accorded throughout the visit.
“I deeply value the cordial and meaningful discussions with His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthening the success achieved together over the years,” said Sultan Ibrahim.
“His knowledge, passion, and vision in transforming Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030 are truly inspiring,” His Majesty added in a message shared on his official Facebook page.
The King also expressed hope that relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia would continue to flourish across all sectors.
Sultan Ibrahim’s visit to Saudi Arabia was the first by a Malaysian monarch since the late Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah’s visit in 1984. The four-day trip underscored Malaysia’s close trade and diplomatic ties with the Kingdom — currently Malaysia’s 14th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at RM44.74 billion (USD9.79 billion).
His Majesty departed Riyadh from the Royal Terminal at King Khalid International Airport at 2.23 pm local time (7.23 pm Malaysia time) for a three-day state visit to Bahrain.
Upon arrival at Sakhir Air Base, Sultan Ibrahim was greeted with full ceremonial honours by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman Hamad Al Khalifa, and other members of the Bahraini royal family.
The King was accompanied by his sons — Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris Iskandar Al-Haj, Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj, and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj — along with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani.
After receiving a bouquet of flowers from two Bahraini children, Sultan Ibrahim inspected a guard of honour before proceeding to the Sakhir Palace in Zallaq, where a formal welcoming ceremony took place. The national anthems of both countries were played, followed by a 21-gun salute.
During the ceremony, Sultan Ibrahim and King Hamad witnessed a traditional “Ardah” dance performance before holding an official meeting at the Red Brief Council Room in the palace.
Following the meeting, His Majesty visited the Martyrs’ Memorial near Sakhir Palace, where he recited a prayer and performed a symbolic tree-watering ceremony at a nearby palm tree, marking the end of the commemorative event.
The visit to Bahrain marks Sultan Ibrahim’s sixth official state visit since ascending the throne, following previous visits to Singapore, China, Brunei, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
It also represents a milestone in Malaysia–Bahrain relations, being the first state visit by a Malaysian monarch to the island nation since 1974. Bahrain remains Malaysia’s ninth-largest trading partner in West Asia, with bilateral trade valued at RM1.19 billion (USD0.26 billion) last year.
Malaysia’s exports to Bahrain include processed foods, palm-based products, electrical and electronic goods, and transport equipment, while imports mainly comprise metals, metal ores, petroleum products, and steel. - November 7, 2025
