India and Saudi Arabia Ink Bilateral Agreement, Allocate 1,75,025 Haj Pilgrimage Quota for 2024
India and Saudi Arabia solidified their partnership by signing a bilateral agreement on Sunday, paving the way for the allocation of a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2024. Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani, accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan in Jeddah.
According to the agreement, a total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalized for Haj 2024. Among them, 1,40,020 seats are reserved for pilgrims proceeding through Haj Committee, while 35,005 pilgrims will be permitted to proceed through private operators.
In a post on X, Smriti Irani expressed her pleasure at the formalization of the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 and engaged in productive discussions on mutual interests with Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan. The Saudi delegation appreciated India’s digital initiatives, especially in providing essential last-mile information to pilgrims. Irani highlighted the proposal to encourage the participation of women without Mehram in the Haj pilgrimage, emphasizing India’s commitment to inclusivity.
Discussions also covered plans for enhancing medical facilities to ensure the comprehensive well-being of all pilgrims. The Saudi side greatly appreciated India’s digital initiatives for Haj pilgrims, and the Gulf Kingdom offered assistance. During the meeting, the initiative of the Indian government to encourage participation under the Ladies without Mehram (LWM) category was deeply appreciated.
Smriti Irani and Muraleedharan visited the Haj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, to oversee arrangements for pilgrims and explore ways to facilitate better logistics and monitoring mechanisms. They also had separate meetings with Prof. Dr. Ali Erba? of Türkiye’s Directorate of Religious Affairs and Dr. Hj. Naim bin Hj. Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs).
Productive discussions with Prof. Dr. Ali Erba? explored avenues for shared growth and stronger India-Türkiye bilateral ties, exchanging insights on Haj management and adopting best practices for an enhanced pilgrimage experience.
The meetings emphasized sharing experiences on Haj management, administration, and the exchange of ideas on best practices. Discussions also focused on digital initiatives, robust medical facilities, and measures for the care and facilitation of women pilgrims. The visit is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia.