Women Priority in India-Saudi Haj Pact

While the roots of Indo-Gulf relations extend back centuries, the initial high-level political engagement between the two nations took place in December 1955. Since this pivotal meeting, both countries have been actively fostering deeper ties, building on a foundation of shared culture, heritage, trade, and people-to-people connections.

India's delegation, led by Smriti Irani and V. Muraleedharan, visited Saudi Arabia between January 7 and 9, where they inked the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Minister Tafiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah. This accord sets a quota of 1,75,025 Indian pilgrims for Haj in 2024 and introduces a new category to ease the journey for women pilgrims travelling without Mahram.

As Saudi Arabia intensifies its efforts to bolster Hajj tourism, a key contributor to its non-oil GDP, India, with its significant Muslim population, stands as a vital partner. Recent Saudi initiatives like 'Visa within 48 hours' and '96-hour stopover visas' for Indian Hajj pilgrims in 2024 further exemplify this synergy.

The visit also included fruitful discussions with religious leaders from Malaysia and Turkiye, showcasing India's commitment to enhancing Haj management and strengthening bilateral ties. This successful visit underscores the profound cultural and spiritual bonds between India and Saudi Arabia.