RIYADH: Eighty pilgrims from nine European countries will arrive in the holy cities to perform Haj on an invitation from the Riyadh-based World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), its secretary-general, Dr. Saleh bin Suleiman Al-Wohaibi, announced here on Thursday.
Al-Wohaibi said that the hosting of Haj pilgrims will be carried out for the second consecutive year.
The nine European countries include Germany, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Cyprus, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
Al-Wohaibi said that this year WAMY has chosen nine different countries to give the opportunity for a wider section of the global Muslim community.
This is WAMY’s annual program to host pilgrims of preachers, officials of youth and charitable associations, university professors, researchers and others from different parts of the world.
The secretary-general expressed his thanks and appreciation to the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, which has approved this hosting to facilitate Haj for Muslims abroad, and communicate with Muslim minorities in the world to embody the spirit of brotherhood among pilgrims.
The program coordinator for WAMY, Mustaffa Al-Yusuf, told Arab News from the holy city of Makkah that the first batch of these pilgrims would arrive in Madinah in the early hours of Friday.
The highest number, 25 pilgrims, will be coming from the United Kingdom, followed by 15 from Sweden, 12 from France and five from Norway.
He said the participants were selected from various WAMY offices in other parts of the world. “They have selected only first timers for the Haj,” Yusuf said, pointing out that the passage, board and lodging will be looked after by the organization.
“We do this as a service for Muslims in non-Muslim countries,” he said.
WAMY, founded in Riyadh in 1972, is one of the Kingdom’s leading charity organizations and a member of the United Nation’s non-governmental organizations. It has both local and international presence through many branches and affiliate organizations.
It is especially active among young Muslims in various humanitarian works, including helping the poor, providing health care services to them, supporting students, building mosques and clinics, digging of wells, aiding in disasters, providing Islamic education, and vocational training.
WAMY hosts 80 Haj pilgrims from 9 European countries
WAMY hosts 80 Haj pilgrims from 9 European countries
Pakistan confers second-highest civilian award on Saudi commerce minister for strengthening ties
- Ambassador Ahmad Farooq confers Hilal-e-Pakistan on Majid Al-Kassabi in Riyadh
- Award reflects the depth of the longstanding partnership and strong trade relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan
RIYADH: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmad Farooq has conferred the country’s second-highest civilian award on Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi for his role in strengthening ties between Islamabad and Riyadh, Pakistan’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia said.
Farooq presented the Hilal-e-Pakistan to Al-Kassabi during a meeting in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The parties also discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade relations.
“On behalf of the president of Pakistan, Ambassador Ahmad Farooq conferred the Hilal-e-Pakistan on Majid Al-Kassabi, minister of commerce of Saudi Arabia, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations,” the embassy wrote on X.
The award reflects the depth of the longstanding partnership and strong trade relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan and serves as an impetus to further strengthen joint cooperation for the benefit of both countries and their peoples, the SPA reported.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial ties that date back decades and include cooperation in several sectors such as defense, trade, economy, agriculture, livestock and minerals.
Saudi Arabia is the largest source of foreign remittances to Pakistan, with over 2 million Pakistani expats residing in the Kingdom. Riyadh has also helped Pakistan during several economic crises over the years, providing oil on deferred payments and loans in critical times.
The two countries signed a landmark strategic partnership agreement in September 2025, according to which an act of aggression against one country will be seen as an attack on both.
