The Director-General of Verdict Enforcement and Alternative Sentencing, Shaikh Khalid bin Rashid Al Khalifa, received the Acting Director-General of Penal and Correctional Institutions at the UAE Ministry of Interior, Brigadier Saeed Ali Lootah, along with the accompanying delegation, as part of a visit aimed at exchanging expertise and reviewing the Kingdom of Bahrain’s experience in implementing alternative sentencing and social reintegration programmes.
At the outset of the meeting, the Director-General welcomed the UAE delegation, affirming the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, and the ongoing cooperation across various fields, particularly in the security and correctional sectors.
During the meeting, he outlined the key features of Bahrain’s reform system, highlighting the Alternative Sentences and Open Prisons Project as one of the national initiatives supporting social reintegration, in line with the Royal Vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He also noted the continued support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the direct supervision of His Excellency the Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, in advancing this national project and strengthening its humanitarian and community-based dimensions.
The UAE delegation visited the Open Prisons Complex, where they reviewed the educational and training facilities, community-based programmes, and the supportive environment the complex provides to enable beneficiaries to integrate positively into society. A presentation was also delivered, outlining the phases of the Alternative Sentences and Open Prisons Project and highlighting its positive outcomes in promoting social reintegration, as well as associated initiatives that enhance family and community stability.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Director-General reiterated his welcome of the delegation, stressing the importance of exchanging expertise and successful experiences between the two brotherly countries in order to further develop relevant systems of work.
For his part, the delegation praised the advanced Bahraini experience, expressing aspiration to benefit from this pioneering model in supporting development pathways related to the work of penal and correctional institutions.
