Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome at Jeddah airport on Tuesday, marking the start of his two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. This is his third visit to the Kingdom, following earlier visits in 2016 and 2019, and comes at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

As a special gesture, Modi’s aircraft was escorted into Saudi airspace by the Royal Saudi Air Force.

This visit builds on the momentum of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2023 visit to India, where he co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC). The SPC’s second meeting will take place during this visit.

In a departure statement, PM Modi emphasized the importance of India-Saudi ties, highlighting cooperation in defense, trade, energy, and people-to-people links.

In the evening, PM Modi is scheduled to interact with the Indian diaspora in Jeddah, which numbers over 2.7 million and is recognized for its significant role in Saudi Arabia’s development.

India-Saudi economic ties remain strong, with Saudi Arabia being India’s 5th largest trade partner. In FY 2023-24, bilateral trade surpassed $42 billion, and the Kingdom continues to be a key source of crude oil, LPG, and fertilizers for India.

The visit is expected to further strengthen strategic ties and cultural connections between the two nations.