First batch of guests invited to perform Hajj at the expense of

Makkah, December 01, SPA -- More than 200 pilgrims from Jordan,
Egypt, Ivory Coast, Poland, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia,
and Lithuania arrived in Makkah today to perform this year's Hajj at
the expense of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah
bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance will
take care of the guests of the monarch during their stay in the
sacred places.

This year, the guests of the King amounted to 1000 pilgrims from all
over the world, out of whom 600 from central, north and east Europe,
120 from west Europe, 61 from Arab countries and 200 from Asia and
Australia, a senior official of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
Endowments, Call and Guidance said.

Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Lihaidan, Executive manager of the program, said
today's arrivals bring to 12,000 the number of pilgrims who have
performed Hajj at the invitation and expense of the Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.