Okaz / Saudi Gazette

MINA — Though the Kingdom has repeatedly announced it would warmly welcome pilgrims from Qatar and provide them with consummate services, the neighboring Arab Gulf state remained adamant on its boycott of the pilgrimage this year.

Qatar's Pilgrims' Affairs Office in Al-Aziziyah district in Makkah near Alawi Tunisi Hospital, remained vacant and looked like a deserted building with its doors closed and its walls covered with dust.

Saad Jameel Al-Qurashi, member of the coordination council of the tuwafa establishments and Haj companies, said the Haj permits for the Qatari pilgrims, issued by the National Information Center of the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, are already in Doha waiting for them to collect.

"The locations in the Holy Sites specified for the Qatari pilgrims will remain vacant during the entire Haj season," he said.

The tents for the pilgrims from Qatar in Mina are ready to receive them any time they may opt to come.

An official source from the Tuwafa Establishment of South Asian pilgrims said all the services to be extended to the Qatari pilgrims have been completed and they are just waiting for them to arrive.

He recalled that about five months ago the establishment signed a contract with the concerned Qatari officials concerning the services to the pilgrims from this country.

"At the time, the officials of the Qatari Ministry of Endowments praised the services being provided by the Kingdom to the pilgrims," he said.

Meanwhile, as many as 375 Iranian pilgrims have arrived in Madinah until Monday representing the first batch of pilgrims from Iran who are expected to be 86,500.

They were warmly welcomed by the concerned government and private departments. Iran boycotted the pilgrimage last year.

On the other hand, deputy Emir of Makkah Prince Abdullah Bin Bandar has reviewed the outcome of the campaign titled "Haj a Worship and a Civilized Conduct" which was introduced for the first time about nine years ago to enlighten pilgrims about the best behavior during the Haj season.

The meeting was attended by representatives of about 30 government and private bodies concerned with Haj services.

The campaign asked the pilgrims to abide by refined conduct, obtain the Haj permit, do the Haj maximum once every five years, preserve environmental cleanliness, stay away from squatting on the streets and also from stampede which might endanger their lives.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, chairman of the Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques on Monday reviewed preparations being made in the Grand Mosque to receive the pilgrims.

He directed that all the new expansions and the Haram plazas should be open to facilitate the performance of the fifth pillar of Islam.

The Directorate General of Civil Defense has started spreading the culture of safety among the pilgrims on their arrival at the air, sea and land inlets.

Using Power-Point presentations and booklets, the Civil Defense personnel enlightened the pilgrims about the best behavior during the emergency times.

They also informed them about the correct use of tunnels for cars and pedestrians and on the safe use of the Mashaer train.