His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received today in Diriyah his brother, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain, in a fraternal meeting that embodies the deep and strong ties between the two leaderships and peoples.

During the reception, the deep-rooted historical relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain were reviewed, and promising opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various political, security and economic fields were discussed, in addition to discussing a number of topics of common interest and developments in the regional and international arenas.

High-level attendance from both sides

The high-level ministerial attendance at the meeting reflected the importance of the issues discussed. From the Saudi side, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, and His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, were present. Also participating were His Excellency Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and National Security Advisor; His Excellency Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance; and His Excellency Nayef Al-Sudairi, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In contrast, the Bahraini delegation included senior officials, headed by His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, His Excellency Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Court, His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, His Excellency Mr. Hamad Faisal Al Maliki, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Abdul Rahman Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Kingdom.

The depth of Saudi-Bahraini relations

This visit is a continuation of the ongoing coordination between the two kingdoms, as Saudi-Bahraini relations are characterized by a unique bond based on shared destiny, common history, and geographical proximity. The two leaderships work continuously through the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council to enhance integration across various sectors, serving the interests of both countries and strengthening the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Integration of economic and security visions

The presence of the energy, finance, and interior ministers from both sides indicates that the discussions will focus on vital issues that support development and stability. The two kingdoms seek to align the objectives of "Saudi Vision 2030" with "Bahrain Economic Vision 2030" to open new horizons for joint investment, facilitate trade, and enhance energy security, which will positively impact the well-being of both nations and strengthen economic and security stability in the region.

As part of intensive efforts to regulate the travel and tourism services market and ensure the quality of services provided to pilgrims, a large-scale joint field inspection campaign yielded significant results in the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. This campaign targeted travel and tourism service offices to verify the legality of their operations and their compliance with sector regulations.

Results of inspection tours in Riyadh and Jeddah

Official campaign statistics revealed that inspection teams conducted 110 field visits in Riyadh, resulting in the detection of 88 various regulatory violations. In contrast, Jeddah saw 86 thorough inspection visits, during which only 4 violations were recorded. This difference in figures reflects the scale of the efforts undertaken in the comprehensive field survey to ensure establishments' compliance.

Integrating government efforts to combat fake Umrah packages

These field operations are part of an ongoing campaign launched on February 1, 2026, aimed primarily at curbing negative practices in the sector, most notably the marketing of fraudulent and unregulated Umrah packages that prey on those wishing to perform the pilgrimage. This campaign is characterized by high-level government collaboration, involving six key entities: the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, the Public Security Directorate, and the Public Transport Authority.

The importance of oversight in enhancing the quality of the tourism sector

These campaigns are of paramount importance given the significant expansion of the tourism and travel sector in Saudi Arabia. From a regulatory perspective, these stringent measures aim to protect the rights of consumers and pilgrims from fraud and deceptive marketing practices. They also contribute to creating a fair and competitive environment for compliant establishments, thereby raising standards of quality and reliability in the local market.

The participation of multiple security and civil authorities reflects the state’s commitment to implementing the principle of “comprehensive compliance,” as the observed violations are not limited to one aspect, but include commercial, municipal, security, and regulatory aspects related to travel and Umrah licenses.

Expanding the scope of oversight and anticipated penalties

The participating entities affirmed in their statement that these inspection tours are not a one-off event, but rather part of an ongoing strategy. They indicated that work is currently underway to expand the scope of these inspections in the coming phases to include other cities across the Kingdom. This step aims to enhance comprehensive oversight of travel and tourism services and raise the level of compliance with nationally approved regulations and standards.

In closing, the relevant authorities urged all travel and tourism service offices to fully comply with the approved regulations, warning against marketing fraudulent or unauthorized Umrah packages. They emphasized that violating these regulations would subject establishments to the prescribed penalties, which could include closure and legal prosecution. The authorities also called upon pilgrims, citizens, and residents to cooperate by immediately reporting any observed violations to ensure the safety and reliability of the services provided.