Saudi king hosts Saraki, other world leaders to reception

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has hosted a reception for heads of state, Islamic dignitaries, guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and other world leaders who performed Hajj rituals this year.

Saudi Arabia’s leading English daily newspaper Arab News reported that the annual reception held at Mina Palace in Jeddah.

At the outset of the reception, King Salman shook hands with Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir; Gambia’s President Adama Barrow; Comoros President Osman Ghazali; Yemen’s Vice President Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmr; Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail; Egypt’s Grand Mufti Shawki Allam; Princes Hashem and Hamzah bin Al-Hussein of Jordan; Iraq’s Representative Council Speaker Salim Al-Jubouri; Jordan’s House of Representatives Speaker Atef Tarawneh.

The King also exchanged handshake and pleasantries with President of the Nigerian Senate Dr. Bukola Saraki; Niger’s National Assembly President Ousseini Tinni; Mauritius Vice Prime Minister Showkutally Soodhun; Bangladesh’s former President Hussain Mohammed Ershad among others.

Other countries who had representatives at the meeting include Russia, Afghanistan, Comoros, Lebanon, and senior officials from a number of Islamic countries.

King Salman congratulated the guests while praying to Allah Almighty to accept pilgrims’ Hajj and prayers, praising Him that pilgrims perform their Hajj rituals in tranquillity, security and ease.

He said that the Holy Land was determined more than ever before to provide best services during hajj to increase the facilitation of Hajj performance and the safety of the visitors of the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque.