King Salman Says Serving Hajj Pilgrims is a Pride Upheld by Saudi Arabia for all Time

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Officials, SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Officials, SPA
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King Salman Says Serving Hajj Pilgrims is a Pride Upheld by Saudi Arabia for all Time

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Officials, SPA
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Receives Officials, SPA

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz reaffirmed on Friday that serving Hajj pilgrims is a national tradition the Kingdom will uphold years on end.

“I hope God will accept the pilgrim’s pilgrimage. May every year find you in good health,” he added.

Speaking from Mina, King Salman said that Saudi Arabia will save no effort in bolstering its security, defending its stability, and preserving its interests. He also said that the Kingdom takes pride in having Islam’s two holy mosques resting on Saudi land, and that the title ‘Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ is held by Kingdom rulers since founder monarch King Abdulaziz.

King Salman had Thursday evening to oversee services that have been put in place for pilgrims during Hajj.

Around two million pilgrims gathered in Mina to follow in the footsteps of noble Prophet Mohamed to perform one of the key pillars of the Hajj.

The pilgrims stood at Mount Arafat until sunset on the ninth day of the Hijri month Dhu’l-Hijjah.

Mount Arafat is the place where the prophet Muhammad gave one of his last famous sermons on Islam and Allah.

After the Day of Arafat comes the beginning of Eid al-Adha.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz, also the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, received at Mina Palace’s Royal Court on Friday princes, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, scholars, sheikhs, senior officials of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for Arab States, ministers and commanders of military sectors participating in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

Kingdom Scouts Leaders participating in Hajj attended the hosting and had went to greet and congratulate the King on Eid al-Adha.

“I congratulate you and the pilgrims of the Grand Holy Mosque on the blessed Eid al-Adha, praying to Allah to accept the good deeds and return the Eid to the Islamic nation with goodness and blessings,” said King Salman at the reception.



GCC Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
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GCC Welcomes Agreement between Yemen Govt, Houthis

Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special representative for Yemen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 28, 2023. (AP)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed on Wednesday the agreement between the legitimate Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi militias to de-escalate the situation with regard to the Yemeni banking sector and airlines.

The agreement was announced by the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, on Tuesday.

Albudaiwi expressed the GCC's support for all regional and international efforts and the efforts led by the UN special envoy aimed at achieving peace and security in Yemen.

The announcement underscores the importance the international community attaches to the Yemeni crisis, he added, hoping the agreement will pave the way for Yemeni parties to start the political process, under UN auspices, to reach a comprehensive political solution that achieves security and stability in the country.

He reiterated the GCC's continued support and full solidarity with Yemen, its government and people, and its keenness to encourage all efforts to de-escalate and maintain stability in order to reach peace.