King of Malaysia Receives State Welcome at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh

RIYADH, Nov 4: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, was accorded a grand state welcome at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in Malaysia–Saudi Arabia relations.

The ceremony, held at around 1.30 p.m. local time (6.30 p.m. Malaysia), was led by His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who personally received the Malaysian monarch.

As part of the official ceremony, the national anthems of both nations were played before Sultan Ibrahim and the Crown Prince inspected the guard of honor. Senior officials from both Malaysia and Saudi Arabia were then introduced to the two leaders before they proceeded for a formal audience at the palace.

Following the meeting, the Crown Prince hosted a royal banquet in honor of Sultan Ibrahim and the Malaysian delegation. His Majesty later departed for his hotel in Riyadh.

Sultan Ibrahim arrived in the Saudi capital on Monday via the Royal Terminal of King Khalid International Airport, marking the first state visit by a Malaysian king to Saudi Arabia in over four decades. The last such visit was made by the late Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah in 1984.

According to a statement from Istana Negara, the state visit underscores the commitment of both nations to further enhance bilateral relations and expand cooperation across various sectors, including the economy, geopolitics, defense, and Islamic affairs.

The palace noted that the year has already seen 12 high-level exchanges between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, reflecting the deepening ties between the two Muslim-majority nations.

Saudi Arabia remains Malaysia’s 14th largest trading partner, with total trade valued at RM44.74 billion (US$9.79 billion) in 2024.

This visit marks Sultan Ibrahim’s fifth state visit since ascending the throne, following earlier official trips to Singapore, China, Brunei, and Russia.

— Voice of Malaysia News