Bahrain today (January 28) marked the launch of operations at its new passenger terminal with an operational test flight taking off to Abu Dhabi International Airport, carrying an official delegation to the UAE.

 

The delegation comprising Minister of Transport and Communications Engineer Kamal bin Mohammed and Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani was received by Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), one of the UAE’s leading financial institutions. 

 

Kamal Mohammed said the visit to the UAE comes following the directives of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

 

He highlighted the strong bilateral relations, praising the UAE for its contributions and commitment to developing strategic sectors in his country. 

 

Such gestures underscored mutual trust and commitments on which the relations between two countries were founded, he added.

 

The terminal, which is the largest green facility in the kingdom that has earned a Leed gold certification, has been expanded with a funding of AED3.7 billion ($1 billion) from ADFD.

 

The new terminal marked the completion of the first phase of the airport modernisation project that aims to stimulate Bahrain’s economic growth in line with the country’s Economic Vision 2030 by raising the airport’s strategic importance.

 

The Fund facilitated the project on behalf of the UAE, which extended AED9.1 billion to Bahrain in 2013 as part of its commitment to the GCC Development Program.

 

Stating that the visit was undertaken to express Bahrain’s appreciation for the UAE and ADFD, Kamal Mohammed said: "The Abu Dhabi fund had played a vital role in facilitating crucial development projects in the country. It is indeed a key strategic partner in Bahrain’s development effort."

 

"The airport expansion project, which is one of the largest and most important in the civil aviation sector in more than 20 years, will revitalise tourism and commerce," he stated.

 

"The airport expansion project will greatly benefit the Bahraini economy and enhance the role of its services sector, which is a priority economic sector for Bahrain to establish itself as a regional logistical hub," he added. 

 

Al Suwaidi said that the new facility marked a strong start to comprehensive development initiatives undertaken in Bahrain. 

 

He underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment and support to the country in its effort to bolster the economy and promote sustainable development. He pointed out that ADFD, in cooperation with the Bahraini government, had financed many projects in strategic sectors, such as housing, water, health and transport.-TradeArabia News Service