Dubai: King Salman’s issuance of several decrees to facilitate Haj pilgrimage for Qataris has been broadly praised by Gulf citizens and officials.
Early Thursday, the king ruled that:
1) The Salwa land border crossing with Qatar be opened
2) Offered to pay for Qatari flights to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj
3) Offer for Saudi Arabian Airlines to fly the pilgrims in for free
4) Waive electronic permits for Qatari pilgrims.
“The decision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to facilitate matters for Qatar pilgrims to the maximum is a measure that no other Islamic country has been offered even under normal circumstances,” Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s foreign minister, posted on his Twitter account.
“The care provided by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for pilgrims is a great historical responsibility that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has undertaken for all peoples, and only deniers can doubt it.”
In Abu Dhabi, UAE State Minister for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash posted that “every day, Saudi Arabia proves how big-hearted it is.”
“Qatar’s politicisation of the pilgrimage must end following the generous initiative of King Salman. There are matters that are nobler than politics,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
Official reaction from Qatar
On Thursday, there was no official reaction from Qatar, but several Qataris took to social media to welcome the decisions, hoping for easier days ahead following weeks of tension with unprecedented levels.
“In the name of the people of Qatar, I thank King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud,” Rashed Al Merri tweeted on the microblog.
“We are grateful for the royal generosity towards the people of Qatar that shall be recalled forever.”
In another tweet, he said that Shaikh Abdullah Bon Ali Bin Abdullah Bin Jassem Al Thani “went to Saudi Arabia and found a solution, unlike the current government that embarked on shuttle trips to the West and could not find a solution.”
Shaikh Abdullah is the Qatari shaikh who on Wednesday met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud and discussed with him the case of Qatari pilgrims.
King Salman’s decisions to ease restrictions on Qataris, to host Qatari pilgrims and to offer them free transport to perform Haj were based on Prince Mohammad’s views following his meeting with Shaikh Abdullah.
Shuhood Nayef Al Khalid, another social media user, shared her gratitude to King Salman.
“Haj in King’s hospitality, private aircraft, entry from the land border without permits, thanks to King Salman,” she said.
However, Fatima Al Hudifi posted on her account that “there was no need for charity work towards the richest nation on the planet.”
In Saudi Arabia, users heaped praise on King Salman, offering prayers and expressing gratitude for his decisions.
Zahwa Al Zamil said the situation had become clear for all to see and assess.
“Qataris have been given what no other country has ever received. The Qatari government will assume full responsibility if it does not allow its people to perform Haj,” she said.
A Saudi user said that Qataris had become more fortunate than Saudis planning to perform Haj.
“Qataris no longer need a permit and are exceptionally pampered, unlike me a Saudi national who needs a permit to reach Makkah,” the user, writing under the moniker of “Das”, posted.
In June, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.
The Qatari foreign minister made a surprise visit to Kuwait, which has been mediating to resolve the crisis, on Wednesday but no details were released on what the officials discussed.
Earlier this month, Kuwait’s Ruler sent messages to the leaders of the four countries boycotting Qatar, in a move seen by the media as a new Kuwaiti initiative to resolve the crisis.
The four states have imposed a sea, land and air embargo on Qatar and presented a list of demands for Doha failing which it faces further sanctions.
Last week, Kuwait expressed readiness to provide guarantees, jointly with the United States and the Arab bloc, to ensure that “no harm is caused by Qatar”.
The guarantee offer is part of the efforts exerted by Kuwait to mediate in one of the worst crises to hit the Gulf and to prepare for direct dialogue between the Quartet and Qatar.
Kuwait has been pushing for mediation that would bring the two sides together.
A first mediation effort ended without visible progress, and the two sides, while acknowledging the significance of the Kuwaiti role, did not budge from their positions.
A second drive was launched by Kuwait when envoys of Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah on Monday and Tuesday visited Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, the UAE and Bahrain to deliver missives to their leaders.
