Mecca – A Qatari Hajj pilgrim has praised the measures taken in Saudi Arabia at the order of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to facilitate this year’s annual rituals for the Gulf country’s pilgrims.

Saleh al-Marry said that since his arrival in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to perform the Hajj, he found that all facilitations had been provided by the Kingdom. These services include security and government ones in regards to giving the pilgrims directions and guidance.

The Qatari pilgrim had arrived in Saudi Arabia via the Salwa border crossing with Qatar.

He also credited the mediation of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani and the orders of King Salman for making the Hajj pilgrimage possible for him this year.

Marry revealed that he chose to travel to Mecca by land in his own vehicle.

“I like to travel in my own car and I enjoy learning about the Saudi cities that I passed through on my way to Mecca,” he stated.

On the checkpoints throughout the kingdom, Marry said that he only found a welcoming smile whenever he stopped at these points.

“My procedures became easier once the security personnel find out that I am a Qatari pilgrim,” he explained.

“I have started to communicate with my family back in Doha, telling them of the services and correcting their misconceptions,” he stressed.

Marry added: “On this great occasion, we as Muslims, must thank Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who has been generous enough to cover our Hajj expenses. This is an opportunity that cannot be ignored by any Muslim.”

He said that he prepared for the Hajj pilgrimage ever since he found out about Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani’s mediation with King Salman.

He revealed that he was not registered in the Qatari Awqaf Ministry and he had not submitted a Hajj application for 2017, but the “generosity of King Salman encouraged me to perform the Hajj. This opportunity came to us on a golden platter.”