Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today departed for an official visit to Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates - his first official visit as a premier to these three Gulf countries.

Abdullah and his wife Jeanne Abdullah took off from the air force base in Subang at 12.55pm.

Abdullah official tour starts in Bahrain tomorrow, followed by a two-day visit to Qatar and UAE.

The trip, accompanied by several ministers, senior government officials and corporate leaders, is aimed at strengthening Malaysia's ties with these countries.

According to a Bernama report, Abdullah was scheduled to visit several projects undertaken by Malaysian companies and also deliver keynote addresses at business forums in Bahrain and Qatar.

Among the major projects in Bahrain are the RM560 million Formula One racing circuit and the RM1.9 billion Bahrain City Centre project.

In Qatar, Malaysian companies are in the process of completing the construction of Doha's international airport valued at RM1.9 billion.

In UAE, the construction of the five towers project in Al Reem island, worth RM1.3 billion, is scheduled for completion in September.

Abdullah is set to miss the outcome of the Kuala Terengganu by-election result which will be announced later tonight.

He had campaigned twice for the BN candidate - the first was soon after the nomination day and then on the final leg of the campaign period.