HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), owner of Alarab News Channel, visited the Channel’s headquarters at Bahrain World Trade Centre on Tuesday 30th September 2014.

During the visit, Prince Alwaleed met with Alarab management who briefed HRH on the latest developments on the technical and administrative fronts before the planned launch of Alarab before year end. The meeting was attended by Alarab management lead by Mr. Fahad Alsukait, CEO of Alarab and Rotana Group and Mr. Jamal Khashoggi, General Manager of Alarab news channel.

Alarab is a 24-hour channel which targets Arabic-speaking viewers across the Arab world and beyond. The Arab news channel grid will as per the agreement with Bloomberg LP include five-hours of financial and economic news programing throughout the day on the channel. Alarab is an independent venture from Kingdom Holding Company and Rotana Group and is privately owned by Prince Alwaleed.

During HRH’s visit to Bahrain HM King Hamad Bin Issa Alkhalifa, King of #Bahrain received Prince Alwaleed and highlighted the historical fraternal relations bonding the two Kingdoms. HM the King welcomed HRH Prince Alwaleed and paid tribute to his efforts in reinforcing brotherly relations between the two countries and their people. Prince Alwaleed praised the recent success for the Bahraini Athletes in the Asian Olympics held in Incheon, South Korea.

Recently, HM King Hamad attended a gala dinner hosted by Prince Alwaleed at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, France. Moreover in April 2014, HRH attended the Formula-1 Race that took place at the Bahrain International Circuit with HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Also during HRH’s visit to Bahrain, Prince Alwaleed attended the 22nd Annual Heritage Festival with HE Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed.

Also during the Prince Alwaleed’s trip to Bahrain, His Highness visited Rotana media offices and Alarab News Channel headquarters at Bahrain World Trade Centre. His Highness was received by State Minister for Information Affairs Samira Ibrahim Bin Rajab and Information Affairs Authority President Ali Mohammed Al Rumaihi.

In 2012, HM King Hamad awarded Prince Alwaleed the “The Bahrain Medal of the First Order” the countries highest honorary medal.  Furthermore, during the trip Prince Alwaleed and HE Sheikha Mai visited the “Tylos: A Journey Beyond Life" at the National Museum of Bahrain. Upon their arrival they were received by HE Khaled Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Also in the same year, Prince Alwaleed was welcomed by HM King Hamad who hosted a dinner in honor of Prince Alwaleed at the Bustan Palace in AlManama during HRH’s visit to Bahrain. Also in 2012, Prince Alwaleed and HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad AlKhalifa attended the inauguration of “Bahrain the Capital of Arab Culture 2012” under the patronage of HM King Hamad, at the National Museum of Bahrain. The inauguration was also attended by HE Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, HE Sheikh Khaled Bin Ahmed AlKhalifa, Foreign Minister in Bahrain, government officials and dignitaries.

In 2011, Prince Alwaleed congratulated HM 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.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. In addition, the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel in Manama will take place in the near future.