KUALA LUMPUR Oct 3, 2026 — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has welcomed the visit of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to Malaysia for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Malaysia 2026, underscoring closer bilateral ties alongside the sport’s long-awaited return to Sepang.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, Anwar said he was pleased to receive the Bahraini leader for the race weekend and expressed appreciation for Bahrain’s support, together with that of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), in enabling Formula 1 to return to Sepang International Circuit for the first time since 2017.
He also thanked Bahrain International Circuit, Sepang International Circuit and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for close cooperation since July, which he said had allowed preparations for the race to be completed within a short timeframe.
Beyond the grand prix, Anwar said the meeting was used to discuss efforts to strengthen Malaysia–Bahrain relations. That included accelerating senior officials’ talks to activate a high-level joint committee and advancing the bilateral agenda in a more strategic manner.
Aligning Malaysia’s Ekonomi MADANI agenda with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, both sides were determined to expand cooperation in health, Islamic finance, technology, tourism, food security, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and smart manufacturing, according to the statement.
Malaysia welcomes Bahraini investment, Anwar said, while Malaysian companies stand ready to use Bahrain as a gateway to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets, for the prosperity and well-being of the peoples of both countries.
He wished the Bahraini delegation, teams, drivers and visitors a smooth and successful race weekend.
Source: Statement by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on X (@anwaribrahim), Oct 3, 2026.
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