India, Saudi Arabia sign Haj 2027 pact, quota fixed at 1.75 lakh pilgrims

India and Saudi Arabia on Monday signed the bilateral Haj agreement for 2027, retaining India's quota at 1,75,025 pilgrims for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the Indian Consulate in Jeddah said.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who is on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, signed the agreement following a bilateral meeting with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah in Jeddah.

The two ministers reviewed preparations for Haj 2027, discussed logistical arrangements and measures to strengthen bilateral coordination, and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a safe and comfortable pilgrimage for Indian nationals.

"The Ministers reviewed the ongoing preparations for Haj-2027, discussed measures to strengthen bilateral coordination and logistical support, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to a safe, smooth and comfortable pilgrimage for Indian Haj pilgrims," the Indian Consulate said in a statement.

𝐇𝐚𝐣 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝

Under the agreement, 1,75,025 Indians will be permitted to undertake Haj in 2027, the same quota allocated for 2025 and 2026.

India's allocation has increased over the past decade, rising from 1,36,020 pilgrims in 2014 to 1,75,025 in 2025, according to the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

Saudi Arabia determines annual quotas for participating countries to regulate the number of pilgrims visiting Mecca, taking into account the limited capacity of accommodation, transport and other facilities at the holy sites.

The allocations are generally based on the Muslim population of individual countries and are finalised in consultation with their governments.

Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory once in a lifetime for adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.

The pilgrimage takes place during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar and involves a series of prescribed religious rituals performed over five to six days.

𝐑𝐢𝐣𝐢𝐣𝐮 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐣 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Rijiju, accompanied by Joint Secretary (Haj) Mohammad Afzal, visited Saudi Arabia from November 6 to 9 as part of official engagements relating to preparations for the pilgrimage.

On Sunday, he attended the inaugural ceremony of the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah and participated in a ministerial conference chaired by Al Rabiah.

During the discussions, Rijiju conveyed India's appreciation for the Saudi leadership's continued emphasis on pilgrims' welfare and reaffirmed New Delhi's commitment to close cooperation in organising Haj 2027.

The Union minister also joined visiting ministers in an interaction with Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region.

In a post on X, Rijiju said his visit was aimed at strengthening the India-Saudi Arabia partnership, particularly in facilitating the pilgrimage and ensuring the welfare of Haj pilgrims.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝

During his visit, Rijiju chaired a review meeting with officials of the Indian Consulate, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Haj Committee of India to assess preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage.

He appreciated the coordinated efforts of the agencies involved and stressed the importance of continued cooperation to ensure the comfort and welfare of Indian pilgrims.

The minister also attended the Noor-e-Diwali celebration at India House in Jeddah, where he interacted with Saudi guests and members of the Indian community in western Saudi Arabia.

He acknowledged the contribution of the Indian diaspora to strengthening bilateral relations and described the community as an important link between the two countries.

The consulate said the visit had reinforced the longstanding India-Saudi Arabia partnership, particularly in Haj management, cultural exchanges and people-to-people relations.

Both governments reiterated their commitment to improving coordination and facilitating a smooth pilgrimage experience for Indian nationals travelling to Saudi Arabia in 2027.