HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), attended the Formula-1 Race on Sunday 21st April, 2013 with With HM King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain and HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Prince Alwaleed was recieved at Bahrain International Airport by HE Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of Culture who also bid His Highness farewell at the end of the visit.

The racing event was also attended by Mr. Fahad Alsukait, CEO- Rotana Group that is chaired by Prince Alwaleed, Mr. Jamal Khashoggi, General Manager of Alarab news channel that is owned by HRH, Ms. Heba Fatani, Senior Executive Manager, Corporate Communications Department, Dr. Nahla Nasser Alanbar, Private Executive Assistant to HRH the Chairman and Mr. Fahad Bin Saad Bin Nafel, Executive Assistant to HRH the Chairman.

During the visit, King Hamad, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed and Prince Alwaleed attended a luncheon and the Formula-1 race that took place at the Bahrain International Circuit. In conclusion, King Hamad thanked Prince Alwaleed for his response to the invitation.

In coordination with the Ministry of culture in Bahrain led by HE Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the board of Trustees of Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture & Research, Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation-Global (Registered in Lebanon),  chaired by Prince Alwaleed sponsored the renovation of the House of Dr.Ghazi Al Gosaibi, in Manama to preserve his work and perpetuate his memorial.

In 2012, Prince Alwaleed Chairman of Rotana Group and the owner of Alarab News Channel visited the Kingdom of Bahrain. During Prince Alwaleed’s visit to Bahrain His Highness met with HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain. The two discussed the relocation of Rotana and the forthcoming relocation of Alarab to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Prince Alwaleed commented: “The Rotana & Alarab HQ relocation to Bahrain coincides with the handover of the GCC Summit presidency from Saudi to Bahrain.”

In 2012, Prince Alwaleed received in his office in Riyadh HE Sheikh Fawaz Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s President of Information Affairs Authority (IAA), and an accompanying delegation. Moreover, Prince Alwaleed hosted a dinner in honor of his guest at Kingdom resort.

In 2012, HM King Hamad awarded Prince Alwaleed the “The Bahrain Medal of the First Order” the countries highest honorary medal.

Also in 2012, Prince Alwaleed was welcomed by King Hamad who hosted a dinner in honor of His Highness at the Bustan Palace in AlManama during HRH’s visit to Bahrain. Furthermore, while in Bahrain, Prince Alwaleed and HE Sheikh Fawaz Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, signed the agreement for the Rotana and Alarab Channel headquarters’ new location in Manama, Bahrain and held a Press conference.

Prince Alwaleed commented: “This is the strategic step for Rotana and Alarab news channel and a giant leap for media in the region.”

In 2012, Prince Alwaleed and HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad AlKhalifa Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain attended the inauguration of “Bahrain the Capital of Arab Culture 2012” under the patronage of King Hamad, at the National Museum of Bahrain. The inauguration was also attended by Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, HE Sheikh Khaled Bin Ahmed AlKhalifa, Foreign Minister in Bahrain, government officials and dignitaries. Manama has been selected as the capital of Arab culture for 2012. This important cultural event is the result of years of continuous effort to preserve the cultural heritage and national knowledge, the preservation of national identity, promote cultural interaction and cultural exchange among Arab countries.

In 2011, Prince Alwaleed congratulated King Hamad, the government and the people of Bahrain for the national team gold medal victory in the 12th football championship of the Arab Games which concluded in Doha, Qatar. To mark the occasion, Prince Alwaleed presented $10,000 as a gift to each team member and stressed the importance of supporting sports and athletes in the GCC countries.

Prince Alwaleed visited the Kingdom of Bahrain early 2011, during the visit HRH met with King Hamad. The main purpose of the Prince’s visit was to affirm his confidence in the leadership of King Hamad and HRH Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, wishing Bahrain stability and prosperity. Moreover during the visit, Prince Alwaleed met with Dr. Essam Fakhro, Chairman of Bahrain’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and its members. In addition, a press conference was held where HRH addressed the media and the Chamber of Commerce members confirming his confidence in the leadership of the King and Crown Prince. The Prince also referred to the banks and companies that exist in Bahrain, and re-affirmed his investment presence in the country though KHC. Prince Alwaleed also expressed his readiness to further invest in the country. In turn, the head of the chamber and its members welcomed HRH’s visit and thanked him for his support of their local economy.

Prince Alwaleed also referred to his long established warm relationship with the Kingdom of Bahrain in his recent interview with US CNBC on March 11th 2011 and his confidence in the leadership of HM King of Bahrain and HRH Crown Prince of Bahrain wishing Bahrain stability and prosperity.

KHC’s presence in Bahrain is through its indirect investments in the banking sector through Citigroup which has been operating in Al Manama for the past 40 years, and in the hotels sector through Mövenpick hotel in Bahrain that is managed by Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts in which KHC owns a 33.3% stake. In addition, the Four Seasons hotel in Bahrain will be opening soon, managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in which KHC holds a 47.5% stake and is co-owned by Bill Gates’ Cascade in which the company also holds a 47.5% stake, and 5% of the Four Seasons is owned by Isadore Sharp, the Company’s Chairman.