King Abdullah to host 1,400 pilgrims this year Sunday, 16 October 2011 10:26

JEDDAH:  A record number of 1,400 Muslims from around the world will perform Haj this year as guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh announced yesterday that this year, the King Abdullah program for hosting pilgrims would receive pilgrims from Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Russia, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Singapore and Myanmar, the Saudi daily (Arab News) reported.

So far, 18,000 Muslims from around the globe have performed Haj as guests of the Kingdom. The program has been managed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance.

"This year, Muslims from countries that were not covered by the program in previous years are being invited. Our plan is to include the largest possible number of nationalities," Al-Asheikh said. (QNA)