India and Saudi Arabia signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement for Haj 2027 in Jeddah on Monday, November 9, fixing India's pilgrim quota at 175,025, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah said. Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju signed the agreement with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, after bilateral talks between the two ministers.

Source: Sambad English

The two ministers also reviewed preparations for Haj 2027 and discussed key operational priorities. The meeting, the Consulate General said, was aimed at strengthening coordination towards ensuring a safe, smooth and well-organised pilgrimage for Indian Haj pilgrims. The agreement formalises India's allocation and sets the framework for logistics, welfare and administrative coordination between the two governments.

Source: Nation Press

175,025India's Haj 2027 pilgrim quota
9 November 2026Agreement signed in Jeddah
6–9 November 2026Rijiju's Saudi Arabia visit
2027Haj season covered by the pact

Rijiju was in Saudi Arabia from November 6 to 9. He attended the inaugural ceremony of the 6th Haj Conference and Exhibition 2027 in Jeddah, accompanied by Consul General of India in Jeddah Fahad Suri and Joint Secretary (Haj) Mohd. Afzal; the Indian delegation also included the Joint Secretary (Haj) of the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the CEO of the Haj Committee of India. During the visit, Rijiju conveyed India's appreciation for Saudi Arabia's continued commitment to the welfare of Haj pilgrims and reaffirmed the strong India-Saudi partnership, and he also celebrated Diwali with members of the Indian diaspora and Saudi guests in Jeddah.

Source: Sambad English

The signing builds on the Haj Policy 2027 that the Ministry of Minority Affairs announced in June 2026, under which applications for Haj 2027 were opened through the Haj Committee of India portal and the Haj Suvidha App, with the quota distribution between the Haj Committee of India and private tour operators expected to remain at the 70:30 ratio. With the quota now locked in, Indian authorities will move to finalise operational logistics, accommodation arrangements and health preparedness protocols for the pilgrims.

Source: Nation Press

Why it matters

At 175,025 places, India sends one of the largest national contingents to Haj every year. The bilateral agreement is the document that fixes that number and the welfare and logistics framework behind it — everything from accommodation and transport to health protocols for Haj 2027 now flows from this Jeddah signing.

(Sources: Sambad English, reporting the Consulate General of India in Jeddah; Nation Press; The Public World, reporting the Ministry of Minority Affairs.)