Saudi Arabia on Sunday said Qatar had refused to allow its planes to land in Doha to transport Qatari Muslims to Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage.

"Saudi Arabian Airlines director general Saleh al-Jasser has said that the airline has thus far been unable to schedule flights to transport Qatari pilgrims from Hamad International Airport in Doha as Qatari authorities have not allowed the aircraft to land," read a report on the SPA news agency.

Saudi Arabia last week reopened its border with Qatar for Muslim pilgrims and said it would transport Qataris to Mecca, three months into a diplomatic crisis that has seen Riyadh cut all ties with Doha over allegations that the emirate supported Islamist extremists.

Source: AFP