India and Saudi Arabia Finalize Haj Agreement for 2025
India has formalized an agreement with Saudi Arabia, establishing a quota of 175,025 Indian pilgrims for the Haj 2025 season. The agreement was signed in Jeddah by India’s Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah.
Minister Rijiju expressed the government’s commitment to providing optimal services to Indian Haj pilgrims, stating, “We are committed to providing the best possible services to all our Haj pilgrims.” He also noted that discussions were held to enhance the pilgrimage experience and strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the agreement, describing it as “wonderful news” for Indian Haj pilgrims and reaffirming the government’s dedication to improving pilgrimage experiences for devotees.
The quota distribution for Haj 2025 has been allocated in a 70:30 ratio between the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) and private Haj Group Organizers (HGOs), respectively. This allocation translates to 52,507 slots for HGOs out of the total 175,025. In recent years, the distribution ratio has varied between 70:30 and 80:20.
This agreement underscores the collaborative efforts between India and Saudi Arabia to facilitate the annual pilgrimage, ensuring that a substantial number of Indian Muslims can perform Haj in 2025 with enhanced support and services.
