Dubai, Nov. 9 -- India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to retain India's Haj quota at 1,75,025 pilgrims for 2027, following a bilateral agreement signed in Jeddah on Monday.
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju signed the agreement with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, after holding bilateral discussions on preparations for next year's pilgrimage.
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah said the ministers reviewed preparations and discussed ways to improve coordination and logistical arrangements.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a "safe, smooth and comfortable pilgrimage for Indian Haj pilgrims".
India's quota has remained unchanged since 2025, when it stood at 1,75,025, compared with 1,36,020 in 2014. Saudi Arabia allocates annual quotas to countries based on their Muslim populations, taking into account capacity constraints at Mecca's holy sites.
Rijiju, accompanied by Joint Secretary (Haj) Mohammad Afzal, is visiting Saudi Arabia from November 6 to 9. On Sunday, he attended the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah and met Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region. He also reviewed preparations with Indian Consulate officials, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Haj Committee of India.
The consulate said the visit reaffirmed both countries' commitment to "enhanced bilateral cooperation in Haj management, pilgrims' welfare, cultural exchange and people-to-people ties".
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.