What to Expect from PM Modi's Historic Visit to Saudi Arabia?

Prime Minister Modi's Arrival in Jeddah

On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed at Jeddah airport as he commenced a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. This marks his third trip to the Kingdom, following previous visits in 2016 and 2019, upon the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

As a sign of respect for this State Visit, the Royal Saudi Air Force escorted PM Modi's aircraft upon its entry into Saudi airspace.

This visit on April 22-23 comes after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to New Delhi in September 2023 for the G20 Summit and the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.

In a statement before his departure, PM Modi highlighted the significance of India's longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia, which has gained strategic importance and momentum in recent years.

He stated, 'We have cultivated a mutually beneficial partnership across various sectors, including defense, trade, investment, energy, and cultural exchanges. Our shared commitment is to foster regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability.'

This trip will be PM Modi's first visit to the historic city of Jeddah, where the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) is scheduled to take place. The SPC was initiated during Modi's last State visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2019 to advance bilateral relations.

In the evening, according to Indian time, PM Modi plans to engage with members of the Indian community, underscoring his dedication to the welfare of Indians living abroad.

'I look forward to connecting with the vibrant Indian community in Saudi Arabia, which serves as a vital link between our nations and significantly contributes to enhancing cultural and human ties,' PM Modi expressed in his statement.

The Indian community in Saudi Arabia, numbering approximately 2.7 million, plays a crucial role in the economic development of the Kingdom. The influx of Indian workers has been on the rise, with around 100,000 Indians arriving in Saudi Arabia for employment over the past year.

The partnership between India and Saudi Arabia has strengthened significantly over the last decade, particularly following PM Modi's pivotal visit to Riyadh in April 2016, which led to enhanced cooperation in political, economic, security, and defense sectors. During that visit, King Salman honored PM Modi with the Kingdom's highest civilian award, the 'King Abdulaziz Sash.'

The SPC, established in 2019, comprises two main pillars: Political-Security-Socio-Cultural (PSSC) and Economic and Investment. The PSSC is co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister of India and the Saudi Foreign Minister, while the economic pillar is led by India's Commerce and Industry Minister and Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister.

Additionally, there are eight Joint Working Groups (JWGs) and sub-committees under these pillars that hold regular official meetings.

The inaugural Summit of the SPC took place in New Delhi in September 2023, co-chaired by PM Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Since 2024, there have been 11 ministerial-level visits between the two nations. The Saudi Foreign Minister and the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources visited India in November 2024 and February 2025, respectively.

Riyadh, being the headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has maintained strong relations with India, with regular dialogues at the official level. In September 2024, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Riyadh to co-chair the first India-GCC Ministerial Meeting.

Economically, Saudi Arabia ranks as India's fifth-largest trade partner, while India is the second-largest trade partner for Saudi Arabia. In the Financial Year 2023-24, India's imports from Saudi Arabia reached $31.42 billion, with exports valued at $11.56 billion.

Saudi Arabia is also India's third-largest source of crude oil and petroleum products for the Financial Year 2023-24, accounting for 14.3% of India's total crude oil imports. Furthermore, it is a significant supplier of fertilizers, particularly being the second-largest source of DAP for India.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage and Umrah also play a vital role in the bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia, with India's Haj quota set at 175,025 pilgrims.