Manama, 6–8 October 2026During a working visit, Madiyar Menilbekov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan concurrently accredited to the Kingdom of Bahrain, met with officials and representatives of the Kingdom’s business and cultural communities to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation.
The Ambassador attended the “Made in GCC 2026” forum and exhibition at Exhibition World Bahrain. Held under the patronage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the event was opened on the King’s behalf by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The forum focused on opportunities for industrial cooperation and investment partnerships.
Discussion with Ambassador Salah Mohammed Shehab, Chief of Protocol at Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed preparations for the second round of political consultations and organisational matters concerning high-level events.
The meeting with Muneera Nofal Al Doseri, Executive Director of the King Hamad Global Center for Coexistence and Tolerance, focused on interfaith and intercultural dialogue and stronger ties between relevant institutions in the two countries. The Bahraini side commended Kazakhstan’s contribution in this field and the role of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
The Ambassador met with Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, a member of Bahrain’s ruling family, Chairman of the National Council for Arts, Honorary President of the Bahrain Arts Society and founder of the RAK Art Foundation, and visited his solo exhibition. They discussed prospects for cultural exchanges and closer links between art institutions. Following the visit, it was proposed to explore holding a solo exhibition of the artist’s work in Kazakhstan.
The meeting with Abdulwahab Yousif Al Hawaj, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, focused on trade and investment cooperation and direct business contacts. Particular attention was given to the possibility of establishing a Kazakhstan–Bahrain Business Council.
Manama, 28-29 July 2026 – During a working visit to Manama, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Bahrain on a concurrent basis, Madiyar Menilbekov, held a series of meetings with representatives of the Government, expert community, and business circles of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
In particular, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan held talks with Shaikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Khalifa Acting Undersecretary-Director General of Bilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Ali Al Baqali, Chief Executive Officer of Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba); Dr. Mustafa Al Sayed, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation; and Natasha Marwah, Managing Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies – Middle East (IISS–Middle East).
During the meeting with Sheikh A.Al Khalifa, the parties discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Bahrain, regional and international agenda, preparations for upcoming high-level visit, as well as cooperation within multilateral frameworks. Particular attention was paid to coordinating joint efforts in areas of mutual interest and strengthening cooperation in priority sectors.
During discussions with A.Al Baqali, the parties reviewed opportunities for expanding cooperation in the aluminium industry, exchanging expertise in metallurgy, as well as enhancing cooperation in aluminium production and the implementation of joint investment projects.
During the talks with Dr.М.Al Sayed, the Ambassador expressed his appreciation to the Royal Humanitarian Foundation for its financial support for the construction of School No. 91, with a capacity of 1,200 students, in Astana in 2021. The parties also discussed promising areas of cooperation and new initiatives aimed at further strengthening Kazakhstan–Bahrain relations.
During the meeting with N.Marwah, the parties discussed current regional and international security issues, contemporary geopolitical developments in the Middle East, as well as prospects for expanding expert and analytical cooperation between Kazakhstan and IISS–Middle East. Particular attention was given to preparations for upcoming international events, the exchange of expertise in strategic studies, regional stability, and the expansion of professional ties between Kazakhstani and international expert communities.
In addition, following the visit, the Kazakh diplomat gave an interview to the national broadcaster Bahrain TV, during which he spoke about Kazakhstan's political and socio-economic development, the current state of Kazakhstan–Bahrain relations, as well as the prospects for expanding cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, and cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Manama, 28 July 2026 – Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Bahrain concurrently Madiyar Menilbekov presented his credentials to the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
During the official ceremony, the Kazakh Ambassador conveyed the warm greetings of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the King and reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
In turn, King Hamad Al Khalifa commended the high level of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Bahrain, and expressed his readiness to further expand cooperation across all areas of mutual interest, and wished the Kazakh diplomat success in fulfillment his diplomatic duties.
The Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Manama Babyr Daurenbek expresses concern over the missile attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Republic of Kazakhstan supports the de-escalation of the current situation and calls for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Manama expresses his sincere gratitude to His Majesty Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain and all the competent authorities of the Kingdom for their support, the security measures provided, and the prompt response to the recent situation.
We appreciate the swift and effective actions of the competent authorities in maintaining stability and ensuring the safety of citizens and residents.
Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan
in Manama
Dear Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
In view of the rising tensions in the Middle East region and the ongoing developments in the current situation, the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan recommends remaining calm and exercising increased vigilance.
For your personal safety, we recommend the following:
The Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Manama continues to monitor the situation and will promptly inform citizens of any developments if necessary.
In case of an emergency, you may contact the Consulate General through the following hotline numbers:
+973 33480890
+973 36866365
Sincerely,
Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan
in Manama (Kingdom of Bahrain)
Manama, February 24, 2026 – The Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Manama Mr. B. Däurenbek, held a meeting with Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa, Chairman of the National Council for Arts of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for developing bilateral cooperation in the field of arts, as well as issues related to expanding cultural and humanitarian interaction between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Particular attention was given to the possibilities of organizing joint exhibition projects, fostering exchanges between artistic communities of the two countries, and strengthening cultural ties.
QazETA is a state digital platform designed to provide foreign nationals with convenient, transparent, and secure access to key migration and related services under the “one-stop shop” principle (a unified digital window for foreigners).
The project aimed to create a modern, user-friendly platform for foreigners interacting with the government authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as to improve the efficiency and quality of public service delivery.
The QazETA platform is focused on:
- simplifying procedures for entry into and stay of foreign nationals in the Republic of Kazakhstan;
- creating a single digital entry point that ensures consistent interaction of foreign nationals with government services, from entry into the country to everyday services;
- increasing transparency of processes, reducing application processing times, and improving service quality;
- the digitalization of core migration procedures and their integration into mobile service;
The platform is currently operating in pilot mode and the implementation of the platform will be carried out in phases. Currently, the following services are available:
- issuance of electronic visas (e-Visa);
- issuance of an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA);
- obtaining the status of an electronic resident of the Republic of Kazakhstan (e-Residency);
- issuance of certificates confirming the crossing of the state border of the Republic of Kazakhstan by foreign nationals (including for the purpose of IMEI verification of mobile devices).
Key services of the platform:
An electronic visa is a digital form of a state service for issuing visas to foreign nationals and stateless persons.
Citizens of 104 countries may apply for a single-entry electronic visa under the following categories: "А3" (service), "А5" (investor), "В1","В2","В3", (business trip), "В9-1" (Digital Nomad Visa), "В10" (private travel), "В12" (tourist), "С12" (medical treatment).
An electronic visa is issued on the basis of an electronically issued invitation (the invitation is issued by the territorial police authorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and is valid only for the visa holder and does not apply to accompanying persons. In case of passport replacement, a new electronic visa must be obtained.
Foreign nationals and stateless persons are permitted to enter and exit the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan using a valid electronic visa only through border crossing points of the international airports of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
List of countries whose nationals are issued single entry electronic visas
The ETA is intended for citizens of countries that are exempt from visa requirements of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The authorization is issued in electronic form.
Foreign nationals planning to travel to Kazakhstan must submit an ETA application through the mobile application no later than 72 hours prior to travel.
The validity period of the ETA is 180 days.
The actual duration of stay of foreign nationals in Kazakhstan is regulated in accordance with the applicable migration legislation.
At the same time, the issuance of an ETA does not guarantee entry into the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The final decision on admission is made by the authorized state body of the Republic of Kazakhstan during border control procedures.
The following categories are exempt from the requirement to obtain an ETA:
- holders of diplomatic and service (official) passports;
- members of official delegations;
- representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
During the pilot period, obtaining an ETA is recommended but not mandatory for citizens of countries exempt from the Republic of Kazakhstan’s visa requirements. After the pilot period, the ETA will be gradually introduced as a mandatory requirement for these categories of citizens.
e-Residency is an innovative instrument that provides foreign nationals and stateless persons located outside the Republic of Kazakhstan with access to digital government and commercial services within the jurisdiction of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).
The e-Residency program is implemented within jurisdiction of the AIFC and provides for:
- remote issuance of an Individual Identification Number (IIN);
- opening of bank accounts and payment cards;
- issuance of eSIMs;
- remote company registration and business operations
within jurisdiction of the AIFC.
Further expansion of the platform’s functionality is planned, including the issuance of health insurance, the possibility of expedited border control for ETA holders (Fast Track), payment of service fees, and other digital services.
The QazETA mobile application is available for download on Google Play and the App Store.
As part of the project, a technical support service is in operation. Inquiries and suggestions are accepted via email at support@qazeta.kz.
Manama, January 17-19, 2026 – The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and concurrently to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Madiyar Menilbekov, conducted a series of bilateral meetings with officials of the Kingdom of Bahrain during a working visit to the city of Manama. In particular, he held talks with Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Center for Coexistence and Tolerance, Fatima Al Sairafi, the Minister of Tourism, Shaikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Khalifa, the Director General of Bilateral Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Sameer Nass, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During the meeting with Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K. Tokayev, presented the Medal of Honour of the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for his significant contribution to the development of interfaith dialogue. They also discussed further promotion of interconfessional and intercivilizational dialogue. In addition, the parties considered cooperation in the transport sector and the possibility of opening direct flights between the two countries.
During the meeting with Minister of Tourism Fatima Al Sairafi, M. Menilbekov provided information on Kazakhstan’s extensive opportunities in the tourism sector and exchanged views on expanding bilateral cooperation and the prospects for implementing joint initiatives.
At the meeting with Shaikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Khalifa, Director General of Bilateral Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions focused on strengthening political dialogue, organizing upcoming high-level events, and continuing cooperation within the framework of international organizations.
During the meeting with Samir Nass, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, issues were discussed regarding the deepening of trade and economic ties, the establishment of direct contacts between business communities, and the expansion of investment cooperation. Information was also provided on the economic reforms being implemented in Kazakhstan, aimed at creating favorable conditions for foreign investors and promoting business development.
As a result of the meetings, mutual interest was confirmed in further strengthening bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Bahrain, based on friendship and mutual understanding.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and concurrently Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Madiyar Menilbekov, presented copies of his Credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani.
On this occasion, the sides emphasized the importance of taking concrete steps aimed at comprehensively strengthening bilateral cooperation between Kazakhstan and Bahrain and further deepening interaction between the two countries.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Abdullatif Al Zayani congratulated the Ambassador of Kazakhstan on his assumption of office and wished him continued success in further strengthening relations between Kazakhstan and Bahrain.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Menilbekov Madiyar Smadilovich was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Bahrain concurrently.