The kings of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have agreed to a marriage between their respective son and daughter, according to an official announcement by the Bahrain News Agency.

According to the announcement, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, son of Bahrain's king Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, signed the marriage contract last week with the daughter of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah.

Both royal families are members of the Sunni branch of Islam.

The marriage, agreed to by both future spouses, is expected to further cement ties already strengthened by the two nations' cooperative effort to crush anti-government protests.

In March, Saudi Arabia sent a military force to help Bahrain quell an Arab Spring uprising led by Shiite activists in which protesters demanded greater rights.

Bahrain later accused Iran of sending Hizbullah provocateurs to stir up trouble in the kingdom. The nation's foreign minister charged in a letter to the United Nations that unrest was exacerbated by Hizbullah, “a militia that operates freely in Lebanon outside any government control, to conduct terrorist activities.”

Friday's announcement omitted the name of the bride. Nor did it provide the date for the nuptials.