HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister receives the NAO Annual Report for 2025–2026
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today received His Excellency Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Auditor-General of the National Audit Office (NAO).
During the meeting, His Excellency presented His Royal Highness with the NAO’s 23rd Annual Report for 2025–2026.
His Royal Highness emphasised the importance of maintaining effective oversight practices to enhance the efficiency of public resource management and support government entities in achieving their objectives in accordance with the highest standards of quality and efficiency. His Royal Highness noted that these efforts help ensure the optimal use of public funds, improve the quality of services provided to citizens, and advance national achievements in support of the Kingdom’s comprehensive development, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister affirmed that the continued development of the NAO and the strengthening of its institutional effectiveness play a critical role in improving government performance and advancing the principles of transparency, accountability and responsibility.
His Royal Highness highlighted the vital role of audit reports in assessing the government efficiency and identifying opportunities for improvement. In this regard, His Royal Highness stressed the importance of translating the findings of these reports into practical measures that strengthen operational systems, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and enhance efficiency and productivity across government sectors.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister commended the NAO and its national workforce for their expertise, professionalism and commitment to accurate, objective audits. His Royal Highness also praised the NAO’s role in enhancing compliance with the legislation, regulations and procedures governing their operations.
His Royal Highness emphasised the importance of government entities taking prompt and effective action to address the findings of NAO reports, including resolving audit observations, implementing the necessary corrective measures and taking appropriate legal action. His Royal Highness further underscored the need to strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of these measures and ensure that identified issues of non-compliance do not recur.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister highlighted the importance of proactivity in addressing audit observations through the development of preventive measures and procedures that minimise the risk of recurrence, enhance expenditure efficiency and safeguard public funds.
His Royal Highness affirmed that investing in the development of national talent and fostering a culture of innovation and responsibility across government sectors is essential to achieving institutional excellence and sustaining improvements in government performance.
His Royal Highness thanked the national workforce for their dedication and sense of team spirit, commending their contributions to strengthening the government’s operational framework, enhancing the Kingdom’s competitiveness and advancing development objectives that support the continued progress and prosperity of the Kingdom and its citizens.
For his part, HE Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed thanked HM the King for his committed support of the NAO, as well as HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his dedicated oversight of the organisation’s operations. His Excellency emphasised that this support is essential to strengthening oversight mechanisms, further enhancing their contribution to improving institutional performance and the quality of services provided.
His Excellency noted that 95 oversight tasks were completed during the 2025/2026 fiscal year, resulting in 134 reports and approximately 1,052 recommendations. His Excellency added that follow-up work confirmed that audited entities had implemented or begun implementing 96.3% of the recommendations in previous reports.
HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Court, HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, along with several senior officials, were also in attendance.
