Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jeddah on Monday for a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, which is a major visit. Modi was invited by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Modi is visiting the Kingdom’s commercial center for the first time and is making his third visit to Saudi Arabia, having visited it previously in 2016 and 2019.

This top-level visit is a testament to the increasing diplomatic traction between the two countries, particularly following the Crown Prince’s attendance at the G20 Summit hosted in New Delhi in September 2023.

Strategic Council Meeting and Most Important MoUs on the Agenda

While in residence, Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will jointly chair the second India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council meeting. There are likely to be a very high number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed, with a big jump in bilateral collaboration, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Ajaz Khan has said.

The anticipated MoUs will include space, energy, health, science, culture, and cutting-edge technology, with further agreements in the pipeline in trade, investment, and defence, according to news agency PTI.

Hajj Quota and Indian Pilgrim Matters to Be Raised

Among the top subjects on the agenda will be the Hajj quota for Indian pilgrims. The Crown Prince is likely to hear from Prime Minister Modi regarding this directly.

“Hajj is a highly significant activity, and the Government of India attaches great significance to it. Ministry of Minority Affairs has been organising this activity. Some issues come up for discussion in the bilateral talks. There has always been a wonderful coordination between the Saudi government and India on Hajj,” Ambassador Khan said.

India’s Haj quota for 2025 has increased to 175,025 compared to 136,020 for 2014, with arrangements currently made for 122,518 pilgrims. Yet, nearly 42,000 Indians will not be able to perform the pilgrimage this year because of undue delays by Combined Haj Group Operators in finalizing contracts.

Jeddah’s Historic Role and Indian Diaspora’s Contribution

Emphasizing the importance of the city, Ambassador Khan indicated, “Jeddah is a very, very important city from the point of view of connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia because for centuries the port of Jeddah was the port for trade between the two nations, and it is also a gateway to Mecca. So whoever is coming for Umrah and Hajj ends up in Jeddah and then travels to Mecca.”

He further stated that approximately 2.7 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia, contributing significantly to the development of the Kingdom and maintaining close family and cultural relationships with India.

Enhancing Defence and Regional Security Challenges

On the defence front, PM Modi’s visit is expected to add momentum to a strong and evolving partnership. India and Saudi Arabia signed a defence cooperation MoU in 2014 and have since conducted joint naval and land exercises.

Ambassador Khan also affirmed that a further round of naval exercises is on the cards. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also added that talks will involve wider regional and global issues, such as the West Asia crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and maritime security concerns in the backdrop of Houthi attacks.

Trade and Economic Boost on the Horizon

With bilateral trade currently valued at around $43 billion, both sides are expected to explore new economic opportunities during the visit. PM Modi’s engagement is seen as a key step in deepening India’s ties with the Gulf region and the broader Islamic world.

The visit also reaffirms India’s strategic interest in West Asia but, more importantly, paves the way for greater cooperation in technology, security, and people-to-people exchanges between two of Asia’s most powerful nations.