Strategic partnership is a new high in Saudi-India ties

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman being greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in India. (Indian Foreign Ministry)
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Updated 26 January 2020
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Strategic partnership is a new high in Saudi-India ties

  • Kingdom is a long-term, reliable partner in catering to India’s energy needs

JEDDAH: Last year marked the start of a new era in bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia, with two very successful high level visits. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited India in February, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Saudi Arabia in October.

As a result, the relationship between the two countries was elevated to that of a strategic partnership.

The momentum for this evolution of the relationship began during Modi’s visit to the Kingdom in April 2016, during which he was presented with the Sash of King Abdul Aziz, the highest civilian decoration awarded by King Salman. 

This recognition was an indication of the importance the Kingdom attaches to its relations with India.

The momentum increased a year ago with the crown prince’s visit to India, during which he and Modi discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation in all fields, along with other issues of mutual interest.

The growing bilateral ties were reflected in the announcement of Saudi investments in India worth $100 billion, an increase in India’s Hajj quota from 170,000 to 200,000; the release of 850 Indian prisoners held in Saudi prisons for minor offenses, and the confirmation of India as one of the Kingdom’s strategic partner countries under Vision 2030, complete with a proposal to set up a high-level partnership council.

After an invitation by King Salman, Modi made an official visit to Riyadh in October last year. 

The two leaders underlined the close and friendly bilateral ties that are deep-rooted in the shared history of their nations, and which are sustained and nourished by a growing economic partnership, multifaceted cooperation and vibrant people-to-people contacts.

Modi also delivered a keynote address at the third session of the Future Investment Initiative, in which he reiterated India’s intention to work hand-in-hand with Saudi Arabia on Vision 2030.

Modi and the crown prince signed an agreement for the establishment of a joint Strategic Partnership Council, which they will lead. It will provide the framework under which bilateral cooperation across all sectors will be arranged.

Eleven other agreements were signed during Modi’s visit in a number of fields including security cooperation, defense industry collaboration, civil aviation, renewable energy, diplomatic institutions, anti-drug trafficking, strategic petroleum reserves, small and medium enterprises, stock exchanges and the launch of Rupay card.

Saudi Arabia is a long-time, reliable partner in catering to India’s energy needs. 

The Kingdom has been a leading supplier of crude oil for decades, and India imported 18 percent of its energy needs from Saudi Arabia in 2018/19. A steady supply of crude to India was maintained despite the attacks on oil installations in the Kingdom in September 2019.

Over the years, India and Saudi Arabia have progressed from a buyer-seller relationship to a strategic partnership in terms of prospective Saudi investments in the downstream energy sector. As a major step toward this, Saudi Aramco has ventured into India’s refinery business.

Indian Consortium, consisting of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Aramco in April 2018 to jointly develop the $44 billion West Coast Refinery Petrochemical Project Limited in the state of Maharashtra. In June 2018, the UAE’s ADNOC signed an agreement with Aramco to become a partner in the development of the project. 

The 1.2 million barrels-per-day (bpd) greenfield integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex will be supplied with 600,000 bpd of Saudi crude.

Saudi Aramco also signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited in October last year to participate in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves. In addition, Aramco has been exploring ways to enter the Indian market through collaborations with the private sector, as well as acquiring stakes in Indian public sector undertakings under government’s disinvestment scheme.

Bilateral trade has been enhanced over the years, both in volume and composition. Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth-largest trading partner. In 2018-19, bilateral trade increased by 23.83 percent to $34.03 billion. During this period, India’s imports from the Kingdom reached $28.47 billion, a rise of 29 percent over the previous year, while exports to Saudi Arabia stood at $5.55 billion, an increase of 2.61 percent. Bilateral trade for the period from April to November last year is valued at $22.03 billion.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a keynote address at the third session of the Future Investment Initiative, in which he reiterated India’s intention to work hand-in-hand with Saudi Arabia on Vision 2030.

• Over the years, India and Saudi Arabia have progressed from a buyer-seller relationship to a strategic partnership in terms of prospective Saudi investments in the downstream energy sector.

Several major Indian companies operate in the Kingdom in a number of sectors. According to a recent report by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, in 2019, 140 Indian companies were granted licenses to enter the Saudi market, the highest for any single country.

Renewable energy is another sector in which there is a convergence of interests. India and Saudi Arabia have set an ambitious target for increasing the renewable energy content of their respective power-generation portfolios, and this warrants a strong partnership. In February last year, the Kingdom became the 73rd member of the International Solar Alliance. India and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of renewable energy the following October.

Defense relations constitute a significant element of the shared strategic vision for the region, and are testimony to India’s strong ties with the Kingdom. In the extant regional and international geostrategic disposition, strategic relations between India and Saudi Arabia are progressing well.

Regular consultations on defense matters take place through established channels of cooperation, and a range of avenues have been explored and initiated. Rapid progress has been made through high-level visits by defense chiefs, expert exchange programs, training, delegation-level interactions, joint exercises.

There is also collaboration in counterterrorism efforts, regional maritime security, cybersecurity, joint defense manufacturing, in addition to a focus on mutual regional and international security issues.

Contacts between the peoples of the two countries come in a variety of forms, including cultural exchanges and Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. They form the bedrock of Indo-Saudi bilateral relations. The cultural similarities and the geographical proximity to India have made the Kingdom a preferred destination for Indians looking for employment opportunities in other countries. The 2.6 million-strong Indian diaspora is the largest expatriate community in the Saudi Arabia.

Two years after the landmark visit by Modi to Riyadh in 2016, India was named guest of honor at the 2018 edition of Janadriyah, the prestigious annual Saudi festival of culture and heritage.

The organization of Hajj pilgrims is the largest operation handled by Indian government outside of its own borders and is one of the key components of the bilateral relationship. 

Last year, a record 200,000 Indian pilgrims were able to realize the most cherished dream of their lives by successfully completing Hajj. India’s Hajj quota was increased from 170,000 during the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India last February.


Saudi Arabia and Kuwait strengthen museum relations

Updated 22 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia and Kuwait strengthen museum relations

  • Agreement aims to strengthen cultural cooperation and the exchange of expertise in the fields of museums and exhibitions
  • Mona Khazindar underlined the importance of the Tareq Rajab Museum as a leading institution dedicated to Islamic art and heritage

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Museums Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tareq Rajab Museum in Kuwait on Wednesday.

The agreement aims to strengthen cultural cooperation and the exchange of expertise in the fields of museums and exhibitions.

It aims to strengthen the broader cultural relations between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, helping to promote mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue between the two countries.

Mona Khazindar, adviser to the Saudi Ministry of Culture and representative of the Museums Commission, signed the memorandum alongside Ziad Tareq Rajab, director of the Tareq Rajab Museum. The document outlines areas of cultural cooperation and mutual interest for both parties.

Key areas of cooperation include the exchange of research, the loan of objects and the organization of temporary exhibitions, with the aim of enriching the cultural content and enhancing the value of both collections. The memorandum also establishes a joint working group to implement these areas of cooperation and facilitate the exchange of knowledge.

Khazindar said that the memorandum reflected the Museums Commission’s commitment to forming strategic partnerships with long-established private museums in the Arab region.

She underlined the importance of the Tareq Rajab Museum as a leading institution dedicated to Islamic art and heritage, adding that the collaboration would support cultural and knowledge-exchange initiatives across the museum sector.


Nothing will prevent Saudi success, says UK social media influencer

Updated 22 May 2025
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Nothing will prevent Saudi success, says UK social media influencer

  • John bin London praises ‘never quit’ attitude of the Kingdom’s people

RIYADH: British content creator and social influencer John bin London has said he is amazed at the resilience of Saudi Arabia and its people and believes nothing will stop the Kingdom’s success.

Bin London, a native of Nottingham, England, who grew up in Abu Dhabi, was the first guest on the seventh season of The Mayman Show.

He expressed his admiration of the Saudi people and the Kingdom’s rapid transformation.

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“Saudis have a ‘nothing will stop us or will get in our way and we will succeed’ (attitude),” he said. “This is something that I saw within the people.”

He added that whether it was Telfaz 11 — a creative media studio led by an enthusiastic team of storytellers and social influencers — or students he met from small Saudi villages who had traveled to the UK to obtain university degrees, everyone seemed to have a “never quit” mentality.

Bin London also used the partial privatization of oil giant Saudi Aramco as a prime example of the Kingdom’s flourishing economy potential and appeal.

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The initial public offering saw 100 percent of the shares transferred to the Public Investment Fund. Some 95 percent remained with the sovereign wealth fund, with the other 5 percent floated to private investors.

“The economics say, ‘Oh this is not going to work, and if it fails this and that,’ and then in a few years, what did we see? We saw a growth of 150 percent,” said bin London.

He also highlighted NEOM’s The Line project. Built on 34 sq. km, it will eventually accommodate 9 million people with a reduced infrastructure footprint, creating new methods of efficiency.

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“I remember, not long ago, people doubted The Line and then suddenly they saw the trucks going in, and The Line being built, this shut them up,” he said.

Bin London’s view of Saudi perseverance did not just come from observing projects and financial deals, however. He firmly believes that success comes from the people behind it — starting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: “I think it was obvious to everyone who was following and paying attention what was going to happen in this country.”

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The influencer, who is fluent in Arabic and has also mastered the Najdi Arabic dialect, creates content in the language to advocate for the opportunities offered in the land he has decided to make his home.

“I started picking up on vocabulary, pronunciation, from their dialects. It was, I guess, an unconscious thing,” he said.

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“It was just who you hear around you, how they speak. You start copying it and then later on a lot of my friends were from the Otaibi tribe, which … spreads from Taif, Hijaz and into Najd.”

The Briton lauds many Saudi tourist destinations but says Diriyah, the Kingdom’s birthplace and home of At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will always have a special place in his heart.

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“Diriyah is one of my favorite places. It was somewhere that before my first visit to Saudi Arabia, which was in the end of 2022, I literally dreamt about visiting.

“It’s the jewel of the Kingdom, it’s the place of the Al-Saud family, who created this country.

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“I used to watch the videos and see the pictures and I want(ed) to visit the museums, like it was literally a dream, so much so that the first time I came I woke up super early — and I’m not a morning person — with excitement to go visit Diriyah,” he said.

The excitement of that visit, he recalled, meant he spent an entire day wandering around and taking in the depth of history and captivating surroundings.


Major tourism project inaugurated in Al-Ahsa region

Updated 22 May 2025
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Major tourism project inaugurated in Al-Ahsa region

  • Governor of Al-Ahsa Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr laid the foundation stone for the Dusit D2 Al-Ahsa resort
  • Spanning over 77,000 square meters, it will be located in Al-Ahsa Oasis, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

RIYADH: The launch of a major new resort project was inaugurated by Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, governor of Al-Ahsa, as he laid the foundation stone to mark the start of its construction on Wednesday evening.

Various officials from government entities, investors, and representatives from Al-Ahsa Development Authority and the Tourism Fund attended the ceremony for the Dusit D2 Al-Ahsa resort.

Spanning over 77,000 square meters, it will be located in Al-Ahsa Oasis, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It will include 120 luxury hotel units and amenities such as an artificial lake, a health club, restaurants, a cultural center, nature trails, and recreational areas.

The resort will partly operate using solar energy and have electric internal transport, water treatment, and low-carbon building materials.

A SR60 million ($15.995 million) project was also implemented to upgrade the water system in the region ahead of tourist season.

Prince Saud expressed pride at the rapid growth of high-quality tourism projects in Al-Ahsa, all of which strengthen its status as an attractive tourist destination in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He added that these projects contribute to diversifying income sources and increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The support and care that Al-Ahsa and its development projects receive from the Kingdom’s leadership help empower the private sector and encourage investments across various fields, the prince added.

The importance of supporting and enabling the private sector and creating a fruitful investment environment — one that prompts innovative initiatives and provides job opportunities for the people of the governorate — was also highlighted.

The ceremony included the signing of management and operation agreements with the Thai company Dusit, which will operate the resort once it is completed, SPA reported.

Naif bin Abdullah Al-Madhi, CEO of the Business Sector and Tourism Development Fund, spoke of the necessity to embolden projects that reflect the diversity of the Saudi identity and contribute to making unique experiences for tourists that showcase local culture and heritage.

Al-Madhi described the resort as a model for utilizing local environmental resources to offer a complete hospitality experience that highlights agricultural and cultural tourism, especially in a region with the largest palm oasis in the world.

Bassem Al-Ghadeer, chairman of Al-Ghadeer Group, which owns the project, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the governor for his support of the development.


New smart portal launched to enrich pilgrims’ Grand Mosque experience

Updated 22 May 2025
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New smart portal launched to enrich pilgrims’ Grand Mosque experience

  • The interactive portal is the first of its kind, says the president of religious affairs

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia gears up for this year’s Hajj, the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched a new smart portal to enhance the digital experience of pilgrims to the Grand Mosque.

The initiative offers well-curated Islamic content in a simplified and comprehensive manner that addresses the needs of pilgrims, visitors and Umrah performers, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The portal offers a fully integrated digital platform dedicated to delivering religious and enrichment services.

President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, said it was the first smart, faith-based portal of its kind — innovative, globally accessible and highly regulated.

Designed in multiple languages, it serves as an enrichment reference for pilgrims based on a carefully curated and standardized database.

The interactive platform is powered by several smart technologies and offers a range of features including prayer time displays, notifications about imams and muezzins, and schedules of religious lessons and their locations. It is distinguished by an interactive navigation feature that allows visitors to directly access service and lesson locations using smart maps within the app.

The portal also enables instant responses to visitor queries through live chat and provides guidance on how to perform prayer and ablution, along with definitions of Islamic terms. It can be accessed via https://services.prh.gov.sa.

The Presidency also unveiled the updated second version of its AI-powered Manarat Al-Haramain robot on Wednesday, as part of an initiative aiming to leverage advanced technologies to enhance pilgrims’ spiritual experiences.

The robot will act as a reference point for religious inquiries at the Grand Mosque and can connect worshippers and other visitors to direct video calls with muftis who can answer any questions they have.


Saudi university develops sensor to reduce fresh produce spoilage

Updated 22 May 2025
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Saudi university develops sensor to reduce fresh produce spoilage

  • Enables real-time remote monitoring across food supply chain
  • King Faisal University registers the device with US patent office

AL-AHSA: Researchers at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province have developed a low-cost smart sensor that aims to reduce spoilage of fresh produce.

The Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday that the device, which is now registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office, is designed to predict spoilage early during transportation and storage.

Developed by a team from the KFU’s College of Science, the device detects volatile organic compounds, particularly ethylene gas, a key indicator of the onset of spoilage in fresh produce.

The smart sensor enables remote monitoring by stakeholders across the food supply chain, thus helping reduce wastage of fruits and vegetables. (SPA photo)

“The compact and lightweight prototype is designed for easy installation in refrigeration units or transport containers,” the report stated.

As the device can be connected to Internet of Things networks, real-time remote monitoring and early alerts can be done by stakeholders across the food supply chain.

It can be integrated into cooling and distribution systems, offering a practical solution for the food and logistics sectors, the report stated.

It added that the device was showcased by KFU during the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh last December.

It has drawn significant interest from investors due its “practical value in supporting smart agriculture and minimizing food waste in supply chains,” the SPA reported.