Bahrain's King Hamad became the latest leader in the Middle East to be honoured by US President Donald Trump when he was bestowed the American Legion of Merit, Degree of Chief Commander.
The award is granted by US presidents to foreign leaders in recognition of close ties and outstanding achievements.
Mr Trump bestowed the award on King Hamad "in recognition of his remarkable efforts to strengthen the Bahrain-US friendship relations and solid partnership”, state-run Bahrain News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The award comes days after the US named Bahrain and UAE as major security partners in recognition of the countries' long-standing military co-operation.
Mr Trump expressed pleasure at presenting the Legion of Merit to King Hamad.
Mr Trump said that “under King Hamad’s decades of steady leadership as Crown Prince, Emir and King, Bahrain has proved to be an indefatigable ally of the US”, the agency reported.
He also noted Bahrain’s assistance in hosting the US Fifth Fleet, giving the US a maritime foothold in the Gulf region.
Mr Trump also praised King Hamad's decision to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel and noted his backing of the US-drafted Arab-Israeli road map to peace. Bahrain hosted the launch conference connected to the announcement.
"King Hamad has shown extraordinary courage and leadership through his support of the Vision for Peace and his decision to establish full diplomatic relations with the state of Israel. His decision has ushered in a new era of economic and security co-operation between the US most important partners in the Middle East," Mr Trump said.
“King Hamad has challenged old assumptions about the possibility for peace in the region and, in doing so, positively reshaped the landscape of the Middle East for generations.”
It comes days after Morocco's King Mohammed VI was presented with the same award.
Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait was given the award in September. He died the same month.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
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