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Qatar rapprochement: Efforts to rebuild relations between Manama and Doha are continuing, following a series of contacts between leading figures from both countries in January and February, including a phone call between Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and Bahrain’s Prime Minister and Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa in late January and a meeting between their foreign ministers in Riyadh in early February

A concerted effort to put relations between Bahrain and Qatar on a more normal footing is under way, signalled by a meeting between their foreign ministers at the Gulf Co-operation Council headquarters in Riyadh in February.

With signs of improved relations between Bahrain and Qatar on the cards, GSN looks back through the archives at the fluctuating relationship between the too often feuding neighbours.

Bahrain's Prime Minister and Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa inaugurated the King Hamad American Mission Hospital (KHAMH) in Aali on 26 January, 120 years to the day since the first American Mission Hospital (AMH) was opened in Bahrain under the name Mason Memorial Hospital.

Bahraini Sheikha Muneera Bint Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa was appointed director-general of the Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies (MBMA) in December.

Fawzia Abdullah Zainal was named as Bahrain's ambassador to Egypt late December, via a decree issued by King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa. He takes over from Hisham Bin Mohammed Al-Jowder, who had been appointed in 2020.

Bahrain hosted the 18th edition of the Manama Dialogue on 18-20 November, a major geopolitical summit run by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). National security advisor Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Khalfia gave the opening remarks.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) revised the outlook on Bahrain’s B+ rating from stable to positive on 25 November, citing the government’s efforts to reduce the budget deficit and solid growth in non-oil revenues which will help to place debt as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP) “on a more sustainable path”.

Bahrain’s Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, wife of King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, has reappointed Sheikha Meriam Bint Hassan Al-Khalifa as vice-president of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) for a three-year term.

GSN Risk Grade: C↑3↓ A second run-off round of voting was held on 19 November, for the 34 Majlis Al-Nuwab (Council of Representatives) constituencies where there had been no outright winner on 12 November.  Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa was reappointed prime minister on 21 November by his father King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa.

A list of the 24 member Bahraini cabinet, appointed 22 November 2022.

Deals worth $1.8bn were agreed at Bahrain International Air Show, according to officials, although few details were publicly announced. The sixth running of the show was held from 9-11 November at Sakhir Air Base, in the centre of the island. Some 186 companies participated from 33 countries, with visits from 225 military and civil delegations.

Bahraini and UAE diplomats in Laayoune (also written El Aioun) took part in the 47th anniversary of the late King Hassan II’s Green March, held by Morocco in early November to commemorate its takeover of the disputed territory of Western Sahara following the withdrawal of colonial Spain in 1975.

Bahraini authorities congratulated themselves on the smooth running of the election for the 40-seat Majlis Al-Nuwab (Council of Representatives) on 12 November, claiming a turnout of 73%, the highest since elections resumed under the 2002 constitution. However, opposition groups – many of whom boycotted the election – have done their best to dispute the official narrative.

Imagery recently released by the United States space agency Nasa has highlighted the dramatic change in Bahrain over the past three and half decades, as a result of huge land reclamation schemes.