Tehran: The King of Saudi Arabia has invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend this year's Haj in the Holy City of Makkah, Iranian media reported on Wednesday.

It would be the first time an Iranian president was officially invited to take part in the annual pilgrimage, starting later this month, the official IRNA news agency said.

"Saudi King Abdullah has formally invited President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to take part in this year's Haj ceremony," Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Hosseini, was quoted as saying by state television.

The five-day rites are expected to begin on December 18.

On Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said he would take part in the Haj if formally invited.

Last week, he became the first Iranian president to attend the GCC summit held in Doha.

It was not clear whether the 51-year-old had attended the Haj before.