Page 2 - Saudi Arabia

Jaishankar meets Ukrainian, Saudi counterparts on sidelines of G7 FMM

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held separate meetings with his Ukrainian and Saudi counterparts on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) Outreach session in Canada, discussing recent developments and regional issues of mutual interest. Jaishankar, in a social media post, said he had a useful conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "He (Sybiha) shared Ukraine's perspective on recent developments," the EAM said. Jaishankar also met Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and discussed a wide range of subjects, including bilateral relations, regional hotspots, connectivity, and energy. Jaishankar is in Niagara to attend an outreach session with the G7 partner nations. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held talks with his American counterpart Marco Rubio that largely focused on issues relating to trade and supply chains. The external affairs minister also met his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand and reviewed ..

India, Saudi Arabia sign Haj Agreement, quota fixed at 175,025 for 2026

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has signed the bilateral Haj Agreement in Jeddah, with the country's quota for India confirmed at 175,025 for the pilgrimage in 2026. Rijiju, who was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia from November 7 to 9, held a bilateral meeting with the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, in Jeddah on Sunday. During the meeting, both ministers reviewed the ongoing Haj preparations, discussed measures to enhance coordination and logistical support, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further streamline the pilgrimage process for Indian pilgrims, an official statement said. The discussions focused on improving facilities, transportation, accommodation, and health services to ensure a smooth and comfortable pilgrimage experience. Following the meeting, the two sides signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Haj2026 in Jeddah. The country quota for India was confirmed at 175,025, the

Falling Saudi Arabia LPG prices likely to help refiners breathe easy

Saudi benchmark contract prices (CPs) for November for propane and butane, blended to make LPG, dropped to their lowest since August 2023 - $475 and $460 a tonne

Saudi Arabia's flyadeal to begin India flights in the first quarter of 2026

Bullish on the fast-growing Indian aviation market, Saudi Arabia's no-frills carrier flyadeal will start flights to Indian cities, including Mumbai, from the first quarter of 2026. The airline's CEO, Steven Greenway, told PTI that India is one of the "most hyper-competitive markets" in the world and there is a need to have an "absolute, brutal focus on unit cost". A sister company of Saudia Airlines, the Jeddah-based profitable flyadeal has been flying for over eight years and expects to have 46 planes in its fleet by the end of this year. Currently, the carrier has 42 A320 family aircraft and has also placed orders for 10 wide-body A330 Neos that are expected to start coming in from July 2027. "Our intent is to start operating (to India) in the quarter one of next year... We expect to do the metropolises like Mumbai and Delhi, and also, our focus will be the secondary cities in India... I think Mumbai would be the first one," Greenway told PTI in an interview. Saudi Arabia and Ind

Opec+ weighs small oil output hike for December ahead of key meet

Key members of the group led by Saudi Arabia are discussing a hike of about 137,000 barrels a day - matching those made in October and November

Datanomics: Kafala system abolition may end expats' misery in Saudi Arabia

Over 18 million workers were employed in Saudi Arabia in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 CY2025). Out of these, nearly 77.5 per cent were foreign workers

L&T bags grid infrastructure orders of up to ₹5,000 crore in Saudi Arabia

As part of its National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP), Saudi Arabia is upgrading its electricity grid to support renewable energy projects

Saudi Arabia, rich with oil, wants to be known as the AI exporter

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seizing a chance to turn Saudi Arabia's oil wealth into tech influence

Saudi ends Kafala system: How it could help millions of migrant Indian workers

In a landmark labour reform, Saudi Arabia has abolished the decades-old Kafala system, a move that frees millions of migrant workers, including 2.6 million Indians,

Saudi Arabia appoints Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan as new grand mufti

Saudi Arabia appointed a prominent ultraconservative scholar late Wednesday as the country's new grand mufti, the kingdom's top religious scholar. Sheikh Saleh bin Fawzan al-Fawzan, 90, took over the position, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. The decision came from King Salman, based on the recommendation of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the report added. Sheikh Saleh, reportedly born Sept 28, 1935, in Saudi Arabia's al-Qassim province, studied the Quran with a local imam after his father's death. He became a prominent scholar, speaking to the faithful via the Noor ala al-Darb, or Light the Way, radio show and via multiple books he's authored and his television appearances. His fatwas, or religious orders, have been shared via social media as well. Sheikh Saleh has faced criticism in Western media in the past for some of his pronouncements. Human Rights Watch in 2017 reported Sheikh Saleh, when asked if Sunni Muslims should view Shiite as their brothers, ...

Saudi Arabia ends Kafala system: What changes for 2.6 mn Indian migrants

Saudi Arabia has scrapped its decades-old Kafala system, freeing 13 million migrant workers, including 2.6 million Indians, from restrictive employer control and exit visa rules

Saudi premium residency at Rs 98,000: How foreigners can live & work freely

Saudi Arabia offers a SAR 4,000 Premium Residency across five routes, allowing foreigners to live, work, and invest without a local sponsor

US, Saudi Arabia vie for larger share of India's crude oil import pie

Amid global oversupply, the US is emerging as a cost-competitive oil supplier to India, challenging Saudi Arabia and other Gulf producers even as Russian barrels dominate

Saudi Arabia, US in talks for defence pact ahead of MBS' Washington visit

Riyadh and Washington are negotiating a deal similar to the recent US-Qatar pact, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prepares for a key visit to Washington next month

Pakistan's power play: Saying yes to all in a risky multipolar world

Islamabad might have failed for decades to create the sort of productive, dynamic economy that builds anything the world might want to buy. But that doesn't mean there's nothing left to sell

Paves way for just peace: Saudi Arabia welcomes Gaza ceasefire deal

'The Kingdom appreciates the active role of US President Donald Trump and the mediation efforts by the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkiye to reach this agreement'

Saudi Arabia edge closer to 2026 World Cup qualification with key win

Saudi Arabia beat Indonesia 3-2 to move within 90 minutes of qualification for the 2026 World Cup. A victory against Iraq on next Tuesday, also in Jeddah, would guarantee Saudi Arabia first place in Group B and a seventh World Cup appearance. In the fourth round of Asian qualifying, only the winners of the two groups of three earn automatic berths to the tournament. The runners-up advance to a fifth round. Indonesia, coached by former Netherlands and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert, struck first on Wednesday when Kevin Diks converted a penalty in the 11th minute. Six minutes later, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat equalised, and Firas Al-Buraikan's penalty in the 37th minute put Saudi Arabia ahead. Al-Buraikan scored again just after the hour mark, but Diks converted a second penalty in the 89th minute. Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Kanno was sent off in stoppage time, but the hosts held on for the win. Indonesia's chance of returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1938 will be over if

Saudi Arabia to now allow all valid visa holders to perform Umrah

Saudi Arabia allows all valid visa holders - including tourist, work, and family visit - to perform Umrah under new 2025 digital rules via Nusuk

India, Saudi Arabia discuss investment opportunities, economic integration

India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoy close friendly relations reflecting the centuries old economic and socio-cultural ties

Despite defence pact with Pakistan, India remains Saudi's key trade partner

Saudi-Pakistan defence pact underlines Islamabad's reliance on Riyadh, while India's ties rest on larger trade and diversified remittances