The Kingdom’s Hajj authorities have completed their preparations to receive and assist pilgrims at the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah this year, Minister of Hajj Iyad bin Ameen Madani told a Saudi News Television.
In an interview with the Saudi news channel, Madani said that Iraqi pilgrims continue to receive the special attention of Saudi authorities. Saudi authorities have met all the demands of the Iraqi Hajj mission, which were raised during a meeting between Madani and Iraqi Governing Council Member Dr Ibrahim Al-Jaafari earlier this month.
Madani said that Iraqi pilgrims entering the Kingdom by air take the Kuwaiti route, while those coming by land enter the Kingdom via the Jadeedat A’r’ar post on the Saudi-Iraqi border. Four thousand Iraqi pilgrims are expected to arrive by land, he said. The Minister said that Iraqi flights are exempt from airport charges or any other charges levied from aviation companies.
Over 12,000 entry visas have been issued to Iraqi pilgrims by the Saudi Embassy and Consulate in Kuwait, at a rate of 3,000 visas per day.
Source: SPA
