Saudi Arabia's King orders Qatar border to reopen for hajj pilgrims

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered that the border with Qatar be reopened to allow pilgrims to carry out their annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Official state media said today the decision represents the first step forward since a diplomatic crisis began when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar on June 5.

According to a statement from the Saudi News Agency the border decision came after the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed



bin Salman received an envoy from Doha. It said the king has ordered that Qatari pilgrims be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia through the border crossing to do the pilgrimage. He even ordered that private jets belonging to Saudi airlines be sent to Doha airport to bring all Qatari pilgrims on his expenses.

The crown prince emphasised the historical relations between Saudi and Qatari people, and between the Saudi leadership and the royal family in Qatar.