President Mary McAleese will begin a five-day official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates this weekend.
The President will arrive in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, on Sunday morning, where she will visit Bahrain National Museum and watch craftswomen working at an enterprise centre for families dependent on social assistance.
The following day, she will attend a welcome reception followed by a lunch hosted by His Majesty, the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa at which she will be guest of honour.
On Monday afternoon, she is scheduled to view a collection of Qur’ans, Islamic art and artefacts at the Koran House Museum, after which she will address a business reception hosted by Enterprise Ireland in association with the Bahrain Ireland Business Network.
Mrs McAleese will meet Bahrainian businesswomen on Tuesday and meet the Prime Minister of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa before officially opening the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland Medical University of Bahrain campus. She will attend a reception hosted by members of Irish community before leaving for the United Arab Emirates.
She will address students and lecturers at the Abu Dhabi Higher College of Technology on Wednesday before meeting the Crown Prince, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. She will then meet members of the Irish community in the Emirates at a function.
On Thursday, the President will meet the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
She will have talks with Irish business leaders in the region before visiting the Meydan Stables where she will meet Irish jockeys and the stable owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The President will visit Dubai Celts GAA club and address a business reception hosted by Enterpriss before leaving for Dublin.