Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh arrived in Riyadh for a four-day official visit from September 5 to 8, 2026, marking his first such trip to the kingdom in his current capacity.
- Official visit takes place from September 5 to 8, 2026
- Meetings scheduled with top Saudi ministers
- Focus on Indian diaspora of 2.74 million people
During the visit, the Minister is scheduled to meet with the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Affairs Envoy, and the Vice Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture.
The discussions will center on human resources, skill development, and bilateral labour cooperation, affecting an Indian diaspora of approximately 2.74 million people working across sectors such as construction, transport, hospitality, healthcare, IT, and domestic services. The visit builds upon an established institutional framework, including the Joint Committee on Labour Cooperation meetings held in April 2025 and October 2025, and bilateral agreements from 2014 for domestic workers and 2016 for general category workers. A key component of the agenda is the March 2022 Skill Verification Program agreement between India's National Skill Development Corporation and the Saudi entity Takamol, which mandates strict qualification and classification requirements for skilled occupations.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh, through its guidance updated on September 3, 2026, continues to emphasize the use of the eMigrate portal for the recruitment of professionals, skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled non-domestic workers. For domestic service roles, additional safeguards are in place, including a minimum age of 30 for female workers, a minimum monthly wage of SAR 1,500, and a bank guarantee requirement of USD 2,500 or its equivalent. Employment contracts for these roles must be signed by the worker, sponsor, and both Indian and Saudi recruiting agents, with Indian Mission attestation required.
The Embassy has cautioned jobseekers against recruitment via tourist or visit visas and warned against unauthorized agents using platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. Registered recruiting agents are capped at a service charge of ₹30,000 plus 18% GST. In cases of labor disputes, workers are advised to utilize the MADAD portal or contact the Indian Workers Resource Centres for counseling and support. Domestic workers may also access the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development helpline at 19911 for dispute settlement.
