Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Attends Hajj Conference in Jeddah

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju attended the opening ceremony of the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to talk about pilgrim safety and the planning for haj 2027.

Delegation and Meetings

Mr. Rijiju traveled with the Indian Consul General in Jeddah, Fahad Suri, and Joint Secretary for Hajj Mohd. Afzal. On Sunday, November 8, 2026, he joined the official heads of delegation meeting led by Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah reported that Mr. Rijiju thanked the Saudi leadership for taking good care of pilgrims. He also met with Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Deputy Governor of the Mecca Region, along with other visiting ministers.

Context

High-level diplomatic meetings between India and Saudi Arabia help ensure smooth coordination for the annual pilgrimage of hundreds of thousands of Indian citizens. Saudi authorities manage large-scale crowd control and infrastructure, making cooperation with partner nations essential.