Saudi Arabia - India Relations

Samvardhana Motherson International (SAMIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to identify investment development opportunities for industrial and service activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Strategic Partnership Council is a holistic institution covering various sectors of cooperation. The SPC has two pillars: i) Political-Security-Socio-Cultural (PSSC); and ii) Economy and Investment. Under the second pillar 4 JWG’s have been finalized covering the following heads: Industry and Infrastructure; Agriculture and food security; IT and Technology; and Energy.

During His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s visit to India in Feb 2019, the two sides agreed on further deepening trade and investment cooperation between the two countries by aligning the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its 13 Vision Realization Programs with India’s flagship initiatives of "Make in India”, "Start Up India”, "Smart Cities”, "Clean India”, and "Digital India”.

On the invitation of His Majesty King Salman, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Riyadh from 28-29 October 2019 during which the Strategic Partnership Council Agreement was signed, identifying India as one of the Kingdom’s Strategic Partner Countries under ‘Vision 2030’ with a high-level partnership council at the leadership level.

The landmark visits of Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi to the Kingdom in 2016 and 2019 and the State visit of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to India in February, 2019 has marked a new era in the bilateral relations, which culminated in the setting up of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), co-chaired by the two leaders. Besides that, the two sides signed 11 other MoUs in different fields between SA and India.

The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Riyadh in 2016 can be seen as a turning point in our growing engagements with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which have taken an upward strategic direction.

The reciprocal visit by then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to Saudi Arabia in 2010 raised the level of bilateral engagement to ‘Strategic Partnership’ and the ‘Riyadh Declaration’ signed during the visit enhanced cooperation in political, economic, security and defence realms.

The diplomatic relations between the two countries was established in 1947. The historic visit of King Abdullah to India in 2006 resulted in signing of ‘Delhi Declaration’ imparting a fresh momentum to the bilateral relationship.

Saudi Arabia is the 19th largest foreign investor in India with a cumulative investment of $3.15 bn from April 2000 to December 2022. 

The business and visit visa fees for the Indian nationals were decreased and fixed on reciprocal terms. Saudi Arabia is the 12^th largest market in the world for Indian exports and is the destination to around 2% of India’s global exports.

Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trading partner. More than 18% of India's crude oil imports are sourced from Saudi Arabia. India's imports from Saudi Arabia reached $38.6 Bn and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth $9.7Bn registering an increase of 49.5% over last year. Total trade with Saudi Arabia accounted for 4.14% of India's total trade in FY 2022-23.

Major commodities of export from India to Saudi Arabia include rice, meat, electrical machinery and equipment, vehicles, mineral oils, organic chemicals, ceramic tiles, apparels. Whereas, major commodities of import for India from Saudi Arabia are crude oil, LPG, fertilizers, chemicals, plastic and products thereof, aluminium and its articles, iron and steel, cooper and its articles, raw hides and skin (other than fur skins) and leather etc.

Saudi Arabia hosts a 2.6 mn Indian community which has been living in harmony and contributing to the development and progress of Saudi Arabia. Indians in Saudi Arabia send back remittances to the tune of $11 bn or more annually.

The year 2021-22 commemorates with 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Saudi Arabia. As part of this celebration, the Embassy is conducting a host of events from May 2021 till August 2023, which include cultural events, exhibitions, academic activities like quizzes, international film festivals, and sports activities like golf tournaments and cycle rallies.

India and Saudi Arabia signed MoU on cooperation in the area of tourism. Saudi Arabia has recently opened its door for tourism which will further strengthen these relations. India has extended e-Visa facility to Saudi nationals.

On 21 July 2018, the 4^th International Day of Yoga was celebrated with fervour in the prestigious Al-Madi Park of the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre, Riyadh. This marked the first celebration of Yoga in public domain in the Kingdom. The event witnessed huge participation from Saudis, diplomatic corps, officials, journalists, businessmen and Indian diaspora. Two Saudi female Yoga trainers led the Yoga demonstrations on the occasion.

Janadriyah 2018: India successfully participated as ‘Guest of Honour’ in the 32^nd edition of the prestigious Saudi National Festival of Heritage and Culture – Janadriyah from 7 – 28 February 2018. The “Guest of Honour’ privilege comes in the backdrop of the historic visit of Hon’ble PM to Riyadh in April 2016 and the historic bilateral relations.