Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Benten confirmed the arrival of the Qatari pilgrims to Saudi Arabia via Kuwait to perform the pilgrimage in Makkah despite a decision from their country to remove an electronic access through which pilgrims coming from the country would register. “There is no objection to welcome our brothers in Qatar wishing to perform the Hajj rituals,” Benten told Asharq Al-Awsat, saying there are clear Royal directives concerning this issue. The minister said that the Qatari pilgrims can make the trip by air and land either at King Abdulaziz International Airport or Prince Mohammed Airport in Medina, adding that they would be treated as internal pilgrims. Qatar has prevented its citizens from traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and has deleted the special electronic access established by the Kingdom for them to register for the fifth pillar of Islam. Currently, there are around 1.5 million people from around the world in Makkah to perform the pilgrimage. Until Tuesday, 821,080 pilgrims had arrived in Medina, according to daily data issued by the Unit of Media and Social Communication in Hajj Committee in Medina. The Minister reiterated that the Kingdom welcomes all Qatari nationals wishing to perform the Hajj for this year and said they would be provided with all the facilities and services that will enable them to perform the pilgrimage in ease, peace and comfort. Meanwhile, pilgrims started to leave for Medina on the fifth day of Dhul Hijjah month, which coincides on Thursday. Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month as per the Islamic calendar.