Number of Qatari pilgrimags increased in 2017: Emir of Mecca

CAIRO - 30 August 2017: The number of Qatari pilgrims has reached 1,564 nationals, an increase of 354 from the previous year Emir of Mecca and advisor to King Salman, Prince Khalid Al Faisal, said according to Alarabiya news channel.

Earlier, the Saudi king ordered to reopen the Salwa border crossing for the entry of Qatari pilgrims and to cover all costs of transporting pilgrims from Dammam’s King Fahad International Airport and Al-Ahsa International Airport under the Program of the Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud for Hajj and Umrah.

Qatari regime has attempted to “falsely allege baseless information” about bad treatment of Qatari pilgrims during the Hajj by Saudi authorities, but the number of pilgrims proves their lies.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, along with Egypt and Bahrain, decided on June 5 to sever diplomatic and trade relations with Doha, closing their common land borders and air spaces.

The neighboring Arab states’ decision came after accusations of Qatar’s support for terrorism surfaced.

Saudi Arabia is currently organizing the once-in-a-year pilgrimage season, whose rituals are regularly performed in Mecca and Medina.