HIS Royal Highness Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia will depart on a state visit to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from tomorrow, opening a new chapter in diplomatic relations that have been cultivated for 68 years.
Istana Negara announced that the visit will be the first by a Malaysian monarch to Saudi Arabia since Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah’s trip in 1984.
During his stay in Riyadh, His Majesty is scheduled for a private meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Yamamah Palace.
The King will be accompanied by his children, 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, as well as Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who will serve as the accompanying minister.
“This state visit reflects the continued commitment of Malaysia and Saudi Arabia to strengthen bilateral relations, while also expanding cooperation in various fields including the economy, geopolitics, defence, and Islamic affairs,” the palace said.
The visit follows a period of active engagement, with 12 high-level exchanges between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia recorded in the first ten months of this year. Saudi Arabia ranks as Malaysia’s 14th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at RM44.74 billion (US$9.79 billion).
The close ties are also evident in the administration of Hajj and Umrah, with the King set to express Malaysia’s appreciation for the hospitality and special arrangements extended to Malaysian pilgrims each year.
Following the Saudi visit, Sultan Ibrahim will travel to Bahrain on 6 November at the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa for Malaysia’s first-ever state visit to the island nation since diplomatic ties were established in 1974.
The two monarchs share a long-standing friendship, with Sultan Ibrahim having made an official visit to Bahrain in 2017 as Sultan of Johor, while King Hamad attended Sultan Ibrahim’s installation as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in Kuala Lumpur in 2024.
Malaysia and Bahrain maintain cooperation across multiple sectors, with bilateral trade reaching RM1.19 billion (US$0.26 billion) last year, and both countries actively participating in international platforms including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council–ASEAN dialogue.
His Majesty underscored the importance of the visits in continuing Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations with foreign nations for the benefit of the country and its people.
“Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are two countries very close to my heart and have important strategic relations. I ask the people of Malaysia to pray for the success of this visit for the long-term benefit of our nation,” he said. - November 2, 2025
