Bahrain marked Saudi Arabia’s 96th National Day this week with a formal exchange of royal greetings, as King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa sent congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, underscoring the close ties between the two Gulf states.
In his message, King Hamad praised the progress Saudi Arabia has achieved across multiple sectors over the decades and its standing within the international community.
He pointed to the historical bond shared by the Bahraini and Saudi peoples as a reflection of the strategic partnership binding the two nations, and pledged continued efforts to deepen cooperation in the years ahead in ways that serve the interests and ambitions of both countries.
King Hamad extended a second cable of congratulations to Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, sent similar messages to both King Salman and the Crown Prince, echoing the sentiments of continued partnership between Manama and Riyadh.
The gesture extended beyond the royal family. Bahrain’s Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam and Shura Council Chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh also dispatched congratulatory messages, addressed to their Saudi counterpart, Shura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, as well as to Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain Naif bin Bandar Al Sudairi.
Across Bahrain, landmark buildings and public structures were lit up in green on the occasion, a visible marker of the kingdom’s recognition of the day and the warmth of relations between the two countries.
Such displays have become a regular feature of GCC states marking each other’s national celebrations, reflecting the broader coordination between Gulf monarchies on diplomatic, economic and security matters.
Saudi Arabia’s National Day, observed annually on 23 September, commemorates the 1932 unification of the kingdom under its founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, and remains one of the most widely marked national occasions across the Gulf region.
