James B. Smith, Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom, Wednesday thanked Saudi Arabia for welcoming Muslim Americans performing Haj. “On behalf of the US Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and American Muslims visiting the Kingdom to perform the Haj this year, I express our deep gratitude to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Haj Dr. Fouad Bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy, and Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Saleh Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh for welcoming the thousands of American Muslims participating in this year's pilgrimage. Additionally, I extend my thanks to the people of Saudi Arabia for their hospitality and generosity toward American Muslims. Their generous contributions of water, food and health services to visiting pilgrims speak volumes about Saudi hospitality both at home and abroad,” the ambassador's message said. “The Saudi government generously supports pilgrims performing the Haj by providing health care, transportation, security, and other services free of charge. The Haj is the largest annual gathering of people in the world, and we deeply appreciate the great efforts and meticulous planning of the Saudi government to ensure that it is a safe and comfortable experience for all participants,” the ambassador said.
