Coincidentally, Ms Intissar Amer, Egypt’s first lady’s, was in Bahrain at the same time in her very first visit abroad with her husband President General Abdul Fatah El Sisi who paid a visit to the country’s monarch, HM King Hamad II. Whereas Ms Amer was welcomed to the country by the chair of the Supreme Council for Women and first wife of the King, HRH Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa.
Bahrain comes as a no surprise as location for the base as the liberal kingdom is already home of the US Fifth Fleet, and moreover the island’s strategic geographic position was rather well presented to British authorities by Bahrain’s former ambassador to St. James’s Court, Alice Samaan.
Its new top envoy, HE Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, a top member from the Ruling House, and previously Minister of Communications (2012-2014), is currently keen in furthering economic relations between the two countries in the coming years, particularly in the bilateral investments field.
He is due to present his credentials as new head of mission to HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 3 December 2015.
Early 2016, he shall present credentials as non-resident ambassador to The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Spain and Ireland. Sheikh Fawaz is a grandson of Bahrain’s Hakim (Ruler), Sheikh Sir Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (reigned 1932-1942).
Intissar Amer, Egypt’s first lady’s visit abroad: