First batch of Qatari pilgrims enter Saudi Arabia for Hajj

First batch of Qatari pilgrims began entering Saudi Arabia on Thursday through the Salwa border crossing, to perform Hajj, hours following King Salman’s decision. So far, 120 Qatari pilgrims have used the crossing under King Salman’s guests’ program, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Thursday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision to reopen the two countries’ border to Muslim pilgrims. He was making the statement at a press conference in Stockholm.

They added that they were expecting the pace to accelerate and that all actions have been taken to facilitate their entry and pilgrimage. This comes hours after King Salman bin Abdulaziz instructed to allow Qatari pilgrims to enter Saudi Arabia via the land border without electronic permits.

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This decree came upon the mediation of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Jassem Al Thani, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Furthermore, King Salman has ordered the transport of all Qatari pilgrims from King Fahad International Airport in Dammam as well as Al Ahsa International Airport be done free of charge as part of the king Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Program for Hajj and Umrah.

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In addition to that, King Salman ordered to send Saudi Arabian Airlines planes to Doha to transport all Qatari pilgrims directly to Jeddah and for all their costs to be covered at his expense.