RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has ordered the hosting of 1,000 Palestinian pilgrims from the families of martyrs, prisoners, and the injured at his own expense to perform Hajj this year.
The initiative is part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit, implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday.
Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance and General Supervisor of the programme, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh, thanked King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, for this generous gesture.
He stated that this initiative reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing concern for the Palestinian people and the commitment of its leadership to strengthening the bonds of Islamic brotherhood.
Al Alsheikh highlighted that the initiative is part of broader efforts by the Saudi leadership to support Palestinian pilgrims in performing Hajj.
He added that the ministry has already launched a comprehensive plan to deliver all essential services and facilities to the pilgrims—from their departure from their homeland to their return, within a fully integrated system during their stay in Makkah and Madinah.
He stated that the programme has so far hosted more than 64,000 pilgrims from various nations, demonstrating the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to serve Islam and Muslims and reinforce its status as the heart of the Islamic world and the Qibla of Muslims.
This year, the annual pilgrimage will take place in June. While the exact number of pilgrims for Hajj 2025 is yet to be confirmed, early projections indicate it could be a record-breaking year, with more than 2.5 million pilgrims expected to participate.
