Russian pilgrims praised the Saudi authorities for their constant efforts to develop and upgrade facilities for Haj pilgrims.

Elias Umakhanov, vice president of the Haj Council of Russian Federation, said it made it easy for them to perform the rituals at the holy sites.

Umakhanov, who is on a visit to the Kingdom, hailed the public transport system between Makkah and Madinah, the train service at the holy sites and the infrastructure projects, Haj Ministry officials said.

The Russian leader met with Haj Minister Bandar Hajar at his office here on Tuesday and discussed the Haj arrangement for Russian Federation pilgrims. He also praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his efforts to ensure comfort of Haj pilgrims.

According the ministry, 16,400 Haj pilgrims from the Russian Federation are expected to perform Haj this year.

Earlier, the Haj minister received Palestine Minister for Waqf and Religious Affairs Mahmoud Siddik Al-Habash at his office. Palestine has agreed to send 5,280 pilgrims for Haj this year.

The Kingdom reiterated the reasons that necessitated cutting quota for foreign pilgrims by 20 percent and 50 percent cut in inland pilgrims due to the ongoing expansion work at the Grand Mosque.

“About 2,500 Haj pilgrims hailing from Gaza Strip will cross into Egypt, and from Cairo, they will fly to Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport,” Emad S. Shaat, consul general of Palestine, told Arab News. The remaining pilgrims from the West Bank will travel to Amman, Jordan, from where they will travel by road to the Kingdom, he said.