King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain received Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, at the start of his official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain. During the visit, Sheikh Hamdan attended the joint military exercise Bahrain Shield, which was hosted by the Bahrain Defence Force. The drill included the Mohammed bin Zayed Squadron, personnel from the armed forces of GCC countries, units from the Peninsula Shield Force and participants from Saudi Arabia. The exercise is part of ongoing military cooperation between GCC countries. It aims to improve joint readiness, strengthen coordination and support defence capabilities through shared training and the exchange of expertise.