The Iranian president has been officially invited by Saudi King Abdullah to attend the annual Hajj rituals this year.



Ahmadinejad was seen off at Mehrabad International Airport by First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi and several other officials of the country.



Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Majlis Vice-Speaker Mohammad-Hassan Abutorabi-Fard and Presidential advisor Mojtaba Samareh-Hashemi are accompanying President Ahmadinejad in this spiritual visit.



This is the first time that the highest ranking Saudi leader officially invites an Iranian president to attend the Hajj rituals.



President Ahmadinejad visited Saudi Arabia twice in the past one year. He visited the country in March 2007 to review issues of mutual interest with senior Saudi officials.



The Iranian president also went to Riyadh in November 2007, to attend the third annual summit of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Tehran, Dec 17, IRNA