Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The first batch of pilgrims who will perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque under this year’s guest pilgrimage program of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman will arrive in the Kingdom on Wednesday, according to Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Saleh Al-Asheikh, who is the supervisor of the program.

He said 178 prominent Islamic figures will arrive from 15 European countries in response to an invitation from the King to perform Umrah at his personal expense.

Al-Asheikh said the guest pilgrims are from the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Holland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Finland, Denmark and Greece.

“Through the invitation of this group, King Salman is expressing his keenness to take care of the interests of the Muslims around the world,” he added.

The minister said, “The leadership of this blessed country is giving utmost care to Islam and Muslims and is determined to strengthen ties with the Muslim peoples and governments around the world.”

Every year, the King invites about 1,000 prominent Muslim figures who serve Islam and Muslims in their countries and communities to come to the Kingdom to perform the Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

The King also invites a similar number of people to perform Haj as guest pilgrims. In addition, about 1,000 relatives of the Palestinian martyrs perform the pilgrimage as the King’s guests every year.

Al-Asheikh said the program is a welfare initiative, which reflects King Salman’s vision in bringing Muslims together and deepening cooperation between the Islamic organizations.

“The program is also aimed at building constructive communication between influential Muslim personalities and to resolve the issues facing the Ummah,” he said.

Al-Asheikh said it the 12th batch of pilgrims since the inception of the Umrah guest program.