Strengthening ties between two long-standing partners, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a successful State Visit to Saudi Arabia this week, where he praised the Kingdom for its continued welfare support to the Indian diaspora and lauded its role in hosting a successful 2024 Haj pilgrimage.
During his third visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Modi held high-level talks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. The leaders reaffirmed the historic friendship between India and Saudi Arabia, rooted in trust, cooperation, and deep people-to-people connections.
A major highlight of the visit was India’s expression of gratitude toward the Kingdom for its ongoing support to the approximately 2.7 million Indian nationals living in Saudi Arabia. “The Indian side expressed its appreciation to the Saudi side for the continuing welfare of around 2.7 million Indian nationals residing in the Kingdom, reflecting the strong people-to-people bonds and immense goodwill that exists between the two nations,” stated India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The two nations also commended the coordination that enabled a smooth Haj pilgrimage in 2024. India extended its congratulations to Saudi Arabia for the successful organization of the religious event, which witnessed seamless logistical arrangements for thousands of Indian pilgrims. The two sides also noted the ongoing collaboration in facilitating Indian citizens undertaking Haj and Umrah pilgrimages.
This visit came at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following his own State Visit to India in September 2023, when he co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council during the G-20 Summit in New Delhi.
Discussions in Jeddah touched on a wide range of topics, from defense and energy to technology, education, and healthcare. The leaders emphasized that the bilateral partnership is anchored not just in economics and diplomacy but also in the shared aspirations of their people.
In a gesture of goodwill, Prime Minister Modi also congratulated Saudi Arabia on its successful bids to host the World Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034 — milestones that further position the Kingdom as a major global player on the international stage.
The visit concluded on a note of mutual respect and forward-looking optimism, with both nations pledging to deepen strategic cooperation and foster greater connectivity across all sectors.
