By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA | ARAB NEWS

MAKKAH: The first group of pilgrims for the upcoming Haj arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah early Wednesday. The group consisted of 184 South Africans.

Supervisor of the reception committee of the Tawafa Establishment for Non-Arab African Pilgrims Hani bin Hashim Nasser welcomed the pilgrims at the airport, provided them with hospitality meals and drinks and wished them a happy stay in the Kingdom.

Nasser said another 163 pilgrims would be coming from South Africa Thursday, while a group of 38 pilgrims from the country would be arriving the same day at Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

Meanwhile, chairman of the establishment Abdul Wahid bin Burhan Seifuddin said all arrangements were completed to receive pilgrims and enable them to perform the fifth pillar of Islam in ease and comfort. “The establishment has deployed all its human and material resources to serve the guests of God,” he added.

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