Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has issued his directives to allow Qatari pilgrims to enter Saudi Arabia via the Salwa border post without electronic permits, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Wednesday night.

This decree came upon the mediation of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ali Bin Abdullah Bin Jassem Al Thani.

Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense met with Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ali Bin Abdullah Bin Jassem Al Thani on Wednesday evening at Al-Salam Palace here.

Sheikh Abdullah stressed that Saudi-Qatari ties are deep-rooted in history and requested the opening of Salwa border post to Qatari pilgrims.

Sheikh Abdullah offered to mediate to open the Salwa border crossing to allow Qatari pilgrims enter the Kingdom.

Crown Prince Muhammad thanked Sheikh Abdullah for affirming the depth of historic relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, their citizens, and the leadership in the Kingdom with the royal family of Qatar.

King Salman agreed to open the Salwa border crossing to allow all Qatari citizens who want to enter for the Haj pilgrimage. Furthermore, the King ordered that all Qatari citizens be allowed to cross without the required electronic passes used for pilgrims based on the recommendation of Sheikh Abdullah.

Furthermore, King Salman has ordered the transport of all Qatari pilgrims from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam as well as Al Ahsa International Airport be done free of charge and as part of the King Salman Guests Program for Haj and Umrah.

In addition, King Salman ordered to send Saudi Arabian Airlines planes to Doha Airport to transport all Qatari pilgrims directly to Jeddah and for all their costs to be covered at his personal expense, within the King Salman Guests Program for Haj and Umrah.

The Monarch stressed that all the pilgrims should be Qatari citizens.