| 1. |
The idea of constructing a causeway linking the Kingdom
of Bahrain with the Eastern Region of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia was harbored by the sons
of both sisterly countries long before, as an expression
of their wish to facilitate contacts and to increase
the links and bonds amongst themselves. |
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| 2. |
In 1965, the
idea of constructing the causeway began to crystallize
officially, particularly during a courtesy visit by
HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman
Al Khalifa to the late HM King Faisal when
HM expressed his wish to have this causeway constructed. |
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| 3.
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In
the year 1968, a joint committee was formed
between the two countries to study the potential of
implementation of the project. The committee carried
out a field study in order to assess the size of financial
obligations. The joint committee requested from the
World Bank to contribute in choosing the best means
for the implementation of such a mammoth project for
all of its multifarious environmental and geographic
aspects. |
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| 4. |
During
the summer of 1973, a meeting was held which included
the late HM King Faisal bin
Abdul Aziz and the late Amir HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman
Al Khalifa as well as - the then prince
- the late HM King Fahd bin
Abdul Aziz and HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
During the meeting, the late HM
King Faisal requested that the committee
overlooks the economic and financial aspects in its
study and considers the project of constructing the
causeway amongst the projects of nationalistic interest.
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| 5.
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At
the end of year 1975, the World Bank submitted
its study and advice after having sought the assistance
from specialist international expertise in studying
the geographic, environmental factors and maritime
currents. |
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| 6.
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In
the spring of the year 1976, during a visit
by the late HM King Khalid
bin Abdul Aziz to his brother the late HH Shaikh Isa
bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Amir of the State of Bahrain,
the two great monarchs agreed to set up a ministerial
committee from the two countries so as to work on
implementation of the project. |
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| 7. |
On
8th July 1981, HE
Mohammed Aba Al-Khail, the then minister
for Finance and National Economy in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia and HE Yousuf Ahmed Al-Shirawi,
the then minister of Industrial Development in the
State of Bahrain signed the agreement for construction
of the maritime causeway between the two countries
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| 8. |
On
11th November 1982, the Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and
HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa –
may Allah have mercy on them – unveiled the
curtain off the Memorial Panel in an official ceremony
attended by the leaders of the GCC states for work
on the project to commence. |
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| 9.
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On
11th April 1985, HH
Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa pushed
the button to install the last part of the box bridges
thereby linking the Saudi
mainland with the island of Bahrain. |
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| 10. |
On
26th November 1986 , the causeway was inaugurated
by the Custodian of the Two
Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, the monarch
of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and HH Shaikh Isa bin
Salman, the Amir of the State of Bahrain
– may Allah have mercy on them – the latter
was pleased to have the causeway named King
Fahd Causeway. |
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