Jeddah Resonates with 'Modi-Modi' Chants, Saudis Perform Iconic Hindi Patriotic Songs
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome in Jeddah, where locals and Indian expatriates celebrated his visit with chants and cultural performances, including a rendition of a famous Hindi patriotic song, highlighting the strong ties between India and Saudi Arabia.
Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Modi welcomed in Jeddah with cultural performances.
- Saudi singer Hashim Abbas performed a patriotic song.
- Visit aims to strengthen India-Saudi Arabia relations.
- Indian community in Saudi Arabia plays a pivotal role.
- Multiple ministerial visits indicate deepening ties.
Jeddah, April 22 (NationPress) A significant number of local residents and members of the Indian diaspora warmly greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival at his hotel in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon.
During his visit, PM Modi enjoyed lively cultural performances accompanied by enthusiastic chants of 'Modi-Modi' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' from the gathered crowd.
To further honor PM Modi, Saudi singer Hashim Abbas performed the iconic patriotic song 'Ae Watan....', eliciting applause and admiration from the audience, including the Prime Minister himself.
"I have great affection for India, and many had told me this moment would come. With my friend's assistance, I had the incredible opportunity to perform before PM Modi... It felt absolutely surreal meeting the foremost leader of India," Abbas expressed to IANS afterward.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial welcome and a 21-gun salute upon landing in this historic port city.
Enhancing the long-standing and historic relationship between the two nations, PM Modi was graciously welcomed by Deputy Governor of Makkah, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al Kassabi, and Jeddah Mayor Saleh Ali Al-Turki at the airport. This marks PM Modi's two-day visit to Saudi Arabia—the third since 2016 and 2019—following an invitation from Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
As a special honor during his State Visit, PM Modi's aircraft was accompanied by the Royal Saudi Air Force upon entering Saudi airspace.
"I have arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This visit aims to fortify the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia. I look forward to participating in various programs today and tomorrow," PM Modi shared on X after his arrival.
This visit from April 22-23 follows the State Visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi in September 2023 for the G20 Summit and to co-chair the inaugural meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.
In a statement before his departure, PM Modi highlighted the significance of India’s enduring ties with Saudi Arabia, which have gained strategic depth and momentum in recent years.
"We have cultivated a mutually beneficial and substantive partnership in various areas, including defense, trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people connections. We share a commitment to foster regional peace, prosperity, security, and stability," he stated.
This visit marks Prime Minister Modi's inaugural trip to the historic city of Jeddah, where the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) will also occur. The SPC was initiated during PM Modi's previous State visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2019 to advance bilateral relations.
In the evening, Indian time, PM Modi will engage with members of the Indian community, underscoring his dedication to the welfare of Indians abroad.
"I am also excited to connect with the vibrant Indian community in Saudi Arabia, which acts as a living bridge between our nations and significantly contributes to strengthening cultural and human ties," PM Modi remarked in his departure statement.
The Indian community in Saudi Arabia numbers 2.7 million and serves as a crucial link between the two nations. The contributions of the Indian diaspora to Saudi Arabia's economic development are well acknowledged, with a steady increase in the number of Indians relocating to Saudi Arabia for employment—approximately 100,000 in the past year alone.
The partnership between India and Saudi Arabia has gained substantial momentum over the last decade, particularly after PM Modi’s landmark visit to Riyadh in April 2016, which led to enhanced cooperation across political, economic, security, and defense sectors. During that visit, King Salman honored PM Modi with the Kingdom's highest civilian award, the 'King Abdulaziz Sash'.
The SPC, established in 2019, consists of two main components - the Political-Security-Socio-Cultural (PSSC) and Economic and Investment. The PSSC is co-chaired by the External Affairs Minister and the Saudi Foreign Minister, while the economic component is co-chaired by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister and the Saudi Energy Minister.
There are also eight Joint Working Groups (JWGs) and subcommittees under these two pillars that conduct regular official meetings.
The first Summit of the SPC took place in New Delhi in September 2023, co-chaired by PM Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Since the beginning of 2024, there have been eleven ministerial-level exchanges between both nations. Notably, the Saudi Foreign Minister and the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources visited India in November 2024 and February 2025, respectively.
Riyadh serves as the headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and India has maintained constructive relations with the GCC Secretariat, including regular dialogues at the official level. In September 2024, EAM S. Jaishankar visited Riyadh to co-chair the inaugural India-GCC Ministerial Meeting.
On the economic front, Saudi Arabia ranks as India’s fifth-largest trading partner, while India stands as Saudi Arabia’s second-largest trading partner. In the Financial Year 2023-24, India's imports from Saudi Arabia reached US $31.42 billion, while exports were valued at US $11.56 billion.
Saudi Arabia remains India's third-largest source for crude and petroleum products for FY 2023-24, with India importing 33.35 MMT of crude oil, accounting for 14.3 percent of India's total crude oil imports. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is the third-largest source of LPG for India, comprising 18.2 percent of India’s total LPG imports for 2023-24. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is a significant supplier of fertilizers, being the second-largest source of DAP for India.
The annual Haj pilgrimage and Umrah represent another pivotal aspect of India-Saudi bilateral relations, with India's Haj quota set at 175,025 pilgrims.
