Union Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday, 7 November 2026 visited the iconic Al Rahmah Mosque in Jeddah, popularly known as the Floating Mosque, a celebrated landmark situated along the Red Sea coastline and widely regarded as one of Saudi Arabia's finest examples of Islamic architecture.

Rijiju's Jeddah Visit and X Post

Sharing a glimpse of his visit on X, Rijiju said, 'Visited the historic Al Rahmah Mosque in Jeddah, popularly known as the Floating Mosque, situated along the beautiful Red Sea coastline. A remarkable place of spiritual significance and architectural beauty, reflecting the rich Islamic heritage of Saudi Arabia.'

The minister arrived in Jeddah on Friday to attend the 6th Haj Conference and Exhibition 2027, where he is set to participate in the signing of the bilateral Haj agreement between India and Saudi Arabia and review logistical preparations to ensure a smooth and safe Haj journey for Indian pilgrims in 2027.

India-Saudi Haj Preparations in Focus

Rijiju also posted about his arrival, saying, 'Landed in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to attend the 6th Haj Conference & Exhibition 2027, participate in the signing of the Bilateral Haj Agreement with the KSA & review preparations for Haj 2027. Was warmly received at the airport by Shri Fahad Suri, Consul General of India in Jeddah. Looking forward to productive engagements focused on ensuring a smooth, safe & comfortable Haj journey for all Indian pilgrims.'

The visit follows a preparatory meeting last month in which India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Vipul, accompanied by Consul General Fahad Suri and Consul (Haj) Sadaf Choudhary, met Saudi Arabia's Vice Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdulfattah bin Suleiman Al-Mashat, on 4 October 2026. The two sides reviewed Haj 2027 preparations and discussed continued close coordination between the Indian Haj Mission and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

Critical Infrastructure Inspected

During last month's preparatory mission, Ambassador Vipul also inspected two critical transit nodes — the Haj Terminal at Jeddah Airport and the Haramain High Speed Railway Station. According to the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, with over 1,00,000 Indian pilgrims travelling through the Haj Committee of India route, both facilities are pivotal to the arrival and onward movement of pilgrims during the season.

The Consulate noted that the Ambassador reviewed facilities, infrastructure, and operational arrangements at both locations and held discussions with officials on readiness for the forthcoming Haj.

What This Means for Indian Pilgrims

The bilateral Haj agreement — set to be signed at the conference — governs the quota, logistics, medical support, and accommodation arrangements for Indian pilgrims, making it one of the most significant annual diplomatic exercises in the India-Saudi Arabia relationship. This comes amid India's broader effort to streamline its Haj operations, following years of post-pandemic recalibration in pilgrim quotas and infrastructure upgrades.

With the conference underway, the focus will now shift to finalising the terms of the Haj 2027 agreement and translating infrastructure reviews into on-ground improvements for the more than a lakh Indian pilgrims expected to undertake the pilgrimage next year.