Saudi Arabia thanked for reopening Qatar border for hajj pilgrims

CAIRO – 19 August 2017: Despite the rift between Doha and the anti-terror quartet of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, Saudi Arabia announced, last Thursday, that it is reopening its borders with Qatar to allow Qataris to attend the hajj.

The decision came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman held a meeting with Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali is the second son of the late Emir Ali bin Abdullah Al-Thani, the grandson of the Emir of Qatar, Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani, and the brother of Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani, who was overthrown by his cousin Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani, grandfather of Prince Tamim bin Hamad on February 22, 1972.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to provide required services for pilgrims and facilitate the performance of the hajj rituals.

For his part, Sheikh Abdullah expressed his appreciation to his approval to open the Salwa border crossing for the entry of Qatari pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's territories without electronic permits.

Sheikh Abdullah, via Twitter, extended his appreciation to the Saudi king, he also referred to a special operations room staffed by Saudis to cater to Qataris’ affairs and will be under his supervision while countries’ ties are currently severed.

He also denied all rumors that the Saudi Kingdom has banned transactions via Qatari Riyal.

The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Qatari pilgrims will be allowed to enter the kingdom by land and would then be flown onward from two Saudi airports in Dammam and al-Ahsa at the king's expense.

On the other hand, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said he welcomed the Saudi decision, but that the measures must also include a full lifting of the blockade.