News In Brief
By SK. TDT | Manama Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com Securing Hormuz navigation His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa held a telephone call with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Sultan of Oman. They reviewed the strong bilateral relations between Bahrain and Oman and discussed reg
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa held a telephone call with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Sultan of Oman. They reviewed the strong bilateral relations between Bahrain and Oman and discussed regional and international developments of mutual interest.
His Majesty the King praised Oman’s prominent role and ongoing efforts to reach an agreement that ensures the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Both sides stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in all international waterways, noting its importance to international trade and global economic stability.
Extends Condolences to Colombia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Bahrain’s sympathy and solidarity with Colombia following an earthquake that struck the country, resulting in deaths, injuries and missing persons.
The Kingdom conveyed its sincere condolences to the Colombian government, its people, and the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster.
Fintech Forum in October
Bahrain is preparing to host the fourth edition of the Future of Fintech Forum 2026 on October 7-8 at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre. The event is organised by the Economic Development Board, with support from the Central Bank of Bahrain and Bahrain Fintech Bay, while Forbes Middle East will prepare the programme and agenda.
The forum will bring together global thought leaders, financial services innovators and decision-makers to discuss key challenges facing the sector and explore investment opportunities supporting the growth of financial services in Bahrain, the region and globally.
Bahrain, Malaysia discuss tourism cooperation
Sarah Ahmed Buhiji, Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, met with Mohammed Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, during her visit to Malaysia to discuss strengthening tourism cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting covered joint initiatives in tourism marketing and promotion, and coordination for hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit from October 2-4, 2026, including promotional and tourism activities surrounding the event.
Both sides stressed the importance of continued coordination and exchange of expertise in tourism marketing and promotion, while exploring opportunities to strengthen tourism links and use major international events to boost visitor flows to both destinations.
Home renovation service cut to 5 days
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning revamped its home renovation application service, reducing processing time from 20 working days to five through automated electronic verification of applicants’ data.
The new process replaces manual checks with direct electronic verification and reduces the Service Level Agreement period by 25%. Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna bint Ahmed Al Romaihi said the move aims to simplify procedures, improve efficiency and provide citizens with a faster and smoother service.