The Minister of Hajj and Umrah concludes an official visit to a number of Balkan countries
وزير "الحج" يختتم زيارة رسمية إلى عدد من دول البلقان
Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Guests of Allah Service Program Committee, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, concluded an official visit to a number of Balkan countries, accompanied by a high-level delegation of leaders from the Guests of Allah service ecosystem. The visit included Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, during which he met with senior leaders, officials, and heads of Umrah companies to discuss ways of cooperation to facilitate and enhance the Umrah journey for pilgrims coming from the Balkan countries. Dr. Al-Rabiah welcomed the Guests of Allah from the Balkan countries arriving through various ports throughout the year, affirming the Kingdom’s leadership’s commitment and interest in enabling the largest possible number of Muslims to perform the rituals. He highlighted the efforts and initiatives aimed at creating a distinctive spiritual journey for the Guest of Allah under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030, through which the Kingdom seeks to enrich the experience of pilgrims and visitors and provide integrated services that ensure ease in performing the rituals across all stages of the Guest of Allah’s journey. At the beginning of the visit program, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, received Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah in the Albanian capital, Tirana, praising the tangible developmental initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in serving the Guests of Allah and commending the facilities offered to them. In Tirana, Dr. Al-Rabiah also met with the Grand Mufti and Head of the Islamic Community of Albania, Sheikh Bujar Spahiu, where they discussed ways to develop and improve Umrah journeys for Albanian citizens through strengthening joint cooperation between relevant entities in both countries, as well as mechanisms to facilitate Umrah procedures and provide the best services for pilgrims and visitors. His visit to Albania witnessed a series of events and joint agreements, including the inauguration of the “Nusuk” exhibition with the participation of Saudi and Albanian Umrah companies, reflecting the development and cooperation between the two countries in this field. Productive meetings were also held with leaders of the Albanian Institute for International Studies, one of the country’s most prominent think tanks, to discuss academic and research cooperation and exchange of expertise. Dr. Al-Rabiah also met with a group of media professionals and representatives of major Albanian media institutions. In Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, received the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, praising the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts in serving the Guests of Allah and enriching their experience, and commending the outstanding services that facilitate the performance of rituals. Dr. Al-Rabiah also met with the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca, where he reviewed the strategic directions in serving pilgrims and their role in facilitating the journey of Umrah performers and visitors from Kosovo. He held discussions with the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure of Kosovo, Liburn Aliu, on mechanisms of cooperation to facilitate the journey of pilgrims and visitors, provide the best services to the Guests of Allah, and enrich their religious experience. The visit also witnessed the signing of an air transport services agreement that contributes to facilitating travel procedures for Umrah performers from Kosovo. Dr. Al-Rabiah concluded his meetings in Kosovo with the Head of the Islamic Community and Grand Mufti, Sheikh Naim Tërnava, discussing ways to enrich the experience of pilgrims and visitors from Kosovo through benefiting from the provided facilities and initiatives. In Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, the Head of the Religious Affairs and Grand Mufti, Sheikh Shakir Fetahu, received Dr. Al-Rabiah and praised the Kingdom’s historical and pivotal role in caring for the Two Holy Mosques and serving Umrah performers and visitors. Dr. Al-Rabiah also met with the President of the Macedonian Parliament, Afrim Gashi, who commended the distinguished efforts and innovative solutions provided by the Kingdom to serve pilgrims and the Guests of Allah. At the final stop of his Balkan tour, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, received Dr. Al-Rabiah, praising the fruitful cooperation and qualitative development in services provided to the Guests of Allah and facilitating their access to the Two Holy Mosques. During his visit to Montenegro, Dr. Al-Rabiah also met with the Head of the Islamic Community and Grand Mufti, Sheikh Rifat Fejzić, discussing opportunities for cooperation and coordination to facilitate the arrival of more Umrah performers from Montenegro to Makkah and Madinah. These visits to a number of Balkan countries come as an extension of international outreach efforts as part of the objectives of the Guests of Allah Service Program, one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to meet the aspirations of pilgrims and visitors from around the world by enhancing coordination and joint work with relevant entities, ensuring the improvement of the Guests of Allah experience in all aspects of their journey, and enabling the hosting of more pilgrims and visitors with ease and convenience.