MAKKAH: The number of pilgrims who arrived in Makkah under the Guests of King Salman for Hajj and Umrah Program has reached 1,279 out of 1,300 who are slated to perform Hajj this year.
The remaining guests are scheduled to complete arrival on Sunday with 21 pilgrims from the US and Kyrgyzstan.
The guests of King Salman praised the efforts of the program and Saudi Arabia to serve pilgrims. They also hailed the expansion projects in Makkah and the holy sites.
The guests came from 80 countries, including Madagascar, Argentina, Pakistan, the US, Eritrea, Indonesia, Turkey, Niger, South Africa, Kosovo, Paraguay, Russia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Belarus, Chad, Finland, Albania, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan and Djibouti.
1,279 of king’s guests arrive for Hajj in Makkah
1,279 of king’s guests arrive for Hajj in Makkah
Saudi Arabia welcomes US designation of Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organization
- Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud welcomed the United States’ decision to designate the Sudanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization
DUBAI: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud welcomed the United States’ decision to designate the Sudanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
During the call, Farhan expressed the Kingdom’s support for Washington’s move and emphasized Saudi Arabia’s backing for measures that strengthen regional stability and security.
The discussion comes as the US Department of State announced it is designating the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and intends to formally designate the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) effective March 16, 2026.
According to the State Department, the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood has used violence against civilians to undermine efforts to resolve Sudan’s ongoing conflict and promote its Islamist ideology.
US officials claim fighters associated with the group have carried out mass executions of civilians during the war, although no evidence was given in the departments statement released on March 9.
Washington also highlighted links between the group and Iran. The State Department claimed many of the group’s fighters had received training and other support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
