Saudi King Salman invites Qatar pilgrims to Hajj

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has invited Qatari pilgrims to perform this year's Hajj pilgrimage at his expense.

King Salman also ordered that private jets belonging to Saudi airlines be sent to Doha airport "to bring all Qatari pilgrims on his expenses", accords to Aljazeera news.

The Kingdom announced that it will open its land border with Qatar, with which Saudi Arabia along a number of Arab states has strained ties for over two months, to allow Hajj pilgrims to pass through.

The Salwa border point would be open for Qatari citizens, who wish to perform the annual pilgrimage to pass through with no electronic permissions needed.

The Salwa border crossing had been shut after Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar in early June, accusing Doha of supporting "terrorism" and having ties with Iran. Doha denies the accusations.

In early July, the Arab states sent a list of demands and required Doha to cut diplomatic relations with Iran, close the Turkish military base, eliminate Al-Jazeera TV channel, extradite all persons wanted in four countries on charges of terrorism and pay compensation. Doha refused to fulfill these requirements calling thelistunrealistic and not actionable.

The Qatar crisis remains the most important issue in the Middle East. Many countries, including the US, Turkey and Russia, expressed willingness to mediate between the conflicting sides.

In 2017, the Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, is expected to begin on August 30 and last until September 4.

Jeddah is the airport hub for pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Under the same royal directive, Qatari citizens will also be transported to Mecca from King Fahad airport and Ihsaa airport in the east of the country.

There has been no reaction yet by Qatar's government to the announcement.

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