WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Friday that next week’s White House visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will go beyond a formal meeting, calling it an occasion to “honor Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince,” during remarks aboard Air Force One.

Although the trip is officially classified as a working visit, the White House is preparing pageantry typically reserved for a state visit, according to a senior administration official.

The Crown Prince’s day at the White House on Tuesday will begin with an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn, followed by a greeting on the South Portico.

Trump will then host him in the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting before a signing and lunch in the Cabinet Room, where the US and Saudi Arabia are set to formalize several economic and defense agreements, the official said.

In the evening, the White House will hold a dinner in the East Room, planned by First Lady Melania Trump.

On Wednesday, dozens of CEOs are expected to attend a US-Saudi Business Council gathering at the Kennedy Center. While Trump’s attendance has not yet been confirmed, the official said he is likely to take part.

Strengthening ties with Gulf nations has been a cornerstone of Trump’s foreign policy in his second term. His first major overseas trip included visits to Saudi Arabia, UAE, abd Qatar, where he received an Air Force One escort by Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s and attended a state dinner at a UNESCO heritage site.

“I really believe we like each other a lot,” Trump said during a previous meeting with the Crown Prince in Riyadh.

He later described Prince Mohammed as an “incredible man” and “my friend.” — SG with inputs from agencies