KUWAIT: His
Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable of
congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz
Al-Saud on the end of the hajj season. In the cable, His Highness the Amir
lauded the success of the pilgrimage this year. His Highness Sheikh Sabah also
expressed gratitude for King Salman and his government's strenuous efforts in
addressing the needs of pilgrims, wishing persistent prosperity for the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia and its people.

His Highness the
Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime
Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah have sent similar cables to
King Salman. Meanwhile, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah sent a congratulatory cable to his Saudi
counterpart and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on the successful hajj season.
Sheikh Nasser also hailed the efforts of Saudi Arabia to provide pilgrims with
different services and enable them to perform their rituals easily, the
Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Kuwaiti Minister
of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Fahad Al-Shula commended this year's hajj
pilgrimage season as 'unprecedentedly successful.' "This success has
capped the efforts of the Saudi government to serve pilgrims and provide all
potential to ensure this great success," Shula, who doubles as Minister of
State for Municipal Affairs, said in a statement. He added that Saudi
authorities had exerted great efforts to properly cater for pilgrims this year.

The Kuwaiti
minister also spoke highly of Saudi hajj bodies for capitalizing on
state-of-the-art technology to help pilgrims perform relevant rituals in an easy
and smooth mode. He further appreciated all Kuwaiti ministries and agencies
concerned for having harnessed all energies to answer the needs of Kuwaiti
pilgrims this year.

In the meantime,
Head of the Kuwaiti Hajj Mission Farid Emadi praised the efforts exerted by
members of the mission for their labors in service of Kuwaiti pilgrims this
year. Emadi said he received a phone call from His Highness the Prime Minister
Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Hamad Al-Sabah, who asked about pilgrims' status and
Kuwaiti missions in general. Emadi added that Sheikh Jaber he also conveyed
greetings on behalf of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince
to all members of the mission, thanking them for their exerted efforts during
this year hajj season.

The mission chief
also highly appreciated the follow up and keenness by Minister Shula for easing
up all procedures and work related to Hajj this season. Emadi thanked the Saudi
government led by King Salman, for their and efforts and huge task in serving
all pilgrims this year. Emadi added that members of the mission had made
tremendous service and relentless efforts, day and night, to serve all Kuwaiti
pilgrims.

Saudi Minister of
Health Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah had boasted that this year's hajj season has seen
neither epidemics nor incidents, considering it a completely successful event.
According to Saudi authorities, the number of pilgrims this year hit 2,489,406
-- 1,855,027 from abroad and 634,379 from within Saudi Arabia. - KUNA