April 22, 2025 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia starting today, April 22. He reached Jeddah this morning on the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

In a special gesture, PM Modi's plane was escorted by Saudi F-15s fighter planes of the Royal Saudi Air Force as it entered the Saudi airspace to Jeddah. 

This is PM Modi’s third visit to the country and the first one to the historic city of Jeddah thus marking the first visit in 40 years by an Indian Prime Minister to Jeddah.

The Prime Minister will be participating in the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council which both leaders will co-chair. The Council was set up to strengthen bilateral ties during the Prime Minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2019.

Highly-placed sources told the media that PM Modi is likely to bring up the issue of quota for Indian pilgrims during the holy pilgrimage of Hajj in his meeting with the Crown Prince this evening. India is also set to sign at least six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Saudi Arabia.

“We have shared interest and commitment to promote regional peace, prosperity, security and stability,” the Prime Minister said in his departure statement. He added that both countries have developed a mutually beneficial and substantive partnership, including in the domains of defence, trade, investment, energy and people-to-people ties.

Describing the Crown Prince as “my brother”, Prime Minister Modi said he looked forward to further solidifying relations with the country following the highly successful State visit of Mohammed bin Salman to India in 2023. 

“Every time I have met him, His Royal Highness has left a deep impression on me. His insights, his forward-thinking vision and his passion for fulfilling the aspirations of his people are truly remarkable,” PM Modi said to Arab News before his trip.

The PM will visit a factory employing Indian workers on Wednesday, April 23, and said he was eager to connect with the “vibrant” Indian community in Saudi Arabia.

With Media Inputs