Saudi plane for Qatari pilgrims stays grounded amid diplomatic tiff

Dubai

SAUDI Arabia's state carrier said on Sunday that it had been unable to send planes to transport Qatari pilgrims to the kingdom because it had been unable to get permission to land at Doha airport amid a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia, along with three other Arab states, have been locked in a political row which severed transport ties to Doha in June, but Riyadh said last week that it would facilitate the travel of Qataris for the annual haj pilgrimage.

Between two million and three million Muslims travel to Mecca each year for the pilgrimage - which every able-bodied Muslim has a duty to undertake at least once in their lifetim…