Riyadh: Qatar has blocked Saudi planes from transporting Haj pilgrims, Saudi state media said yesterday.
Riyadh last week reopened its land border with Qatar and allocated seven flights of the Saudi national carrier to bring pilgrims from Doha.
“Qatari authorities have not allowed the aircraft to land as it did not have the right paperwork, although the paperwork was filed days ago,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency said.
“Saudi Arabian Airlines director general Saleh Al Jasser has said that the airline has thus far been unable to schedule flights to transport Qatari pilgrims from Hamad International Airport in Doha,” SPA added.
Meanwhile, a number of Qatari pilgrims expressed their happiness on entering Saudi Arabia through Salwa border.
They hailed the role of the kingdom in serving the pilgrims and providing services and facilities at the border crossing.
The movement from the passports hall to the customs point was very smooth and without any hindrance, Qatari pilgrim Ali bin Masoud Al Murry told SPA.