RIYADH, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia welcomed on Friday Qataris to perform Umrah without the necessity for pre-registration online, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Qatari pilgrims can arrive directly at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and book for Umrah packages. Saudi Arabia justified the move as a "practical solution following the Qatari authorities blocked the online application for visas by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the Qataris for Umrah."
The welcome is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to provide services and facilities for all Muslim pilgrims from around the world, the ministry statement noted.
A Saudi-led Arab quartet including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in June 2017 and has since imposed an embargo on the Gulf state, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.
Qatar has repeatedly denied all the charges.
