Riyadh, November 7: Preparations for Haj 2027, including arrangements for the movement and accommodation of more than 100,000 Indian pilgrims travelling through the Haj Committee of India, are gathering pace as Union Minister for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju arrived in Saudi Arabia for bilateral discussions. During his visit, Rijiju also toured Jeddah’s historic Al Rahmah Mosque, popularly known as the Floating Mosque.
Rijiju reached Jeddah on Friday to attend the sixth Haj Conference and Exhibition 2027, where he is scheduled to participate in the signing of the bilateral Haj agreement between India and Saudi Arabia. His engagements will also include reviewing arrangements aimed at ensuring a safe and comfortable pilgrimage for Indians travelling to the Kingdom next year.
Sharing details of his visit on X on Saturday, Rijiju described the Al Rahmah Mosque, located along the Red Sea coastline, as a site of spiritual significance and architectural importance that reflects Saudi Arabia’s Islamic heritage.
The minister also said Indian Consul General in Jeddah Fahad Suri received him at the airport. He expressed expectations of productive discussions focused on arrangements for Indian pilgrims undertaking Haj in 2027.
The minister’s visit follows a series of preparatory engagements between Indian and Saudi officials to assess infrastructure and logistical requirements for the forthcoming pilgrimage.
On October 4, 2026, India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Vipul, met Saudi Vice Minister of Hajj and Umrah Abdulfattah bin Suleiman Al-Mashat and other senior officials of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to review preparations. Consul General Fahad Suri and Consul (Haj) Sadaf Choudhary also attended the meeting.
According to the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, the discussions covered coordination between the Indian Haj Mission and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the next pilgrimage season. Both sides reviewed the arrangements required to facilitate the participation of Indian pilgrims.
The ambassador also inspected the Haj Terminal at Jeddah Airport and the Haramain High Speed Railway Station, two key facilities used by pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia and travelling onwards during the pilgrimage.
During the inspections, the Indian delegation reviewed infrastructure, passenger facilities and operational arrangements and interacted with officials responsible for managing the facilities.
The Consulate noted that more than 100,000 Indian pilgrims travel through the Haj Committee of India route, making the airport’s dedicated Haj Terminal and the Haramain railway services important components of their arrival and onward transportation.
The inspections and ministerial-level discussions form part of India’s preparations for Haj 2027, with coordination between the two countries covering pilgrimage arrangements and the infrastructure required to manage the movement of Indian pilgrims.
