Jeddah– Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome from both locals and the Indian diaspora as he arrived at his hotel in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon, marking the start of his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
The atmosphere was electric, with vibrant cultural performances and enthusiastic chants of “Modi-Modi” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” resonating through the crowd. Adding to the emotional fervor, Saudi singer Hashim Abbas performed the iconic Hindi patriotic song “Ae Watan”, drawing applause from everyone, including Prime Minister Modi himself.
“I love India deeply, and many people told me this day would come. With the help of a friend, I finally got the chance to sing in front of Prime Minister Modi. It feels surreal — an unbelievable moment meeting the most important man in India,” Abbas told IANS after the performance.
Earlier, Modi landed in the historic port city of Jeddah to a ceremonial welcome, including a 21-gun salute. His arrival was marked by special honors as his aircraft was escorted into Saudi airspace by the Royal Saudi Air Force.
He was warmly received at the airport by Deputy Governor of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Kassabi, and Jeddah Mayor Saleh Ali Al-Turki. This visit marks Modi’s third trip to the Kingdom following visits in 2016 and 2019, and comes at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
“Landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia. Eager to take part in various programs today and tomorrow,” Modi posted on X shortly after his arrival.
This visit builds on the momentum of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s trip to New Delhi in September 2023 for the G20 Summit, during which he co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC).
Ahead of his visit, Modi highlighted the growing depth of India-Saudi ties in a statement, calling the relationship “mutually beneficial and substantive,” with partnerships spanning defense, trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people connections.
“We share a commitment to promoting regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability,” he stated.
This visit marks Modi’s first to Jeddah and includes the second meeting of the SPC, which was established during his last state visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2019 to strengthen bilateral ties.
Later today, Modi is scheduled to interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming his government’s focus on the welfare and contributions of Indians abroad.
“I am eager to connect with the vibrant Indian community here, which serves as a living bridge between our nations and makes immense contributions to strengthening cultural and human ties,” Modi said in his departure statement.
The Indian community in Saudi Arabia, numbering approximately 2.7 million, plays a vital role in the Kingdom’s economic development, and the population continues to grow. Over the past year alone, an estimated 100,000 Indians arrived in Saudi Arabia for employment.
The India-Saudi partnership has expanded significantly over the past decade, particularly since Modi’s landmark 2016 visit to Riyadh, which led to comprehensive cooperation across political, economic, security, and defense sectors. During that visit, King Salman conferred Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honor, the King Abdulaziz Sash, on Modi.
The SPC, established in 2019, has two main pillars: the Political-Security-Socio-Cultural (PSSC) and the Economic and Investment. The PSSC is co-chaired by the Indian External Affairs Minister and the Saudi Foreign Minister, while the economic pillar is co-chaired by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister and Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister.
There are eight joint working groups and subcommittees under these pillars that meet regularly at the official level. The first SPC summit was held in New Delhi in September 2023, co-chaired by Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Since the beginning of 2024, there have been 11 ministerial-level visits between the two countries. Notably, the Saudi Foreign Minister and the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources visited India in November 2024 and February 2025, respectively.
Saudi Arabia is also home to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with which India maintains regular dialogue. In September 2024, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the first India-GCC Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh.
On the economic front, Saudi Arabia remains India’s fifth-largest trading partner, while India is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest trade partner. During FY 2023-24, India imported $31.42 billion worth of goods from Saudi Arabia and exported $11.56 billion in return.
Saudi Arabia is also a major supplier of crude oil and petroleum products to India, accounting for 14.3% of India’s total crude imports (33.35 million metric tons) in FY 2023-24. It was also the third-largest source of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), making up 18.2% of India’s LPG imports, and is the second-largest supplier of DAP fertilizers to India.
Religious ties further strengthen the relationship. India’s annual Haj pilgrimage quota stands at 175,025 pilgrims, with Umrah visits adding to the cultural connections between the two nations.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit is expected to further solidify these multifaceted ties, reinforcing the strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia in an increasingly interconnected global landscape. (Source: IANS)
