Riyadh Season 2024: As part of cultural diplomacy, Saudi Arabia celebrates Indian diversity in mega tourism event

Riyadh Season 2024: As part of cultural diplomacy, Saudi Arabia celebrates Indian diversity in mega tourism event


Symbolic picture. file

Symbolic picture. file

In a show of increasing dialogue with India, Saudi Arabia organized a A fortnight long celebration of Indian culture In Riyadh as part of the annual Riyadh Season festival. The Indian segment of Riyadh Season, a mega tourism program was conceived as an arm of the Saudi government’s Global Harmony Initiative.

The celebration of India’s diversity and pluralism was marked by musical evenings, outdoor culinary events and visits by Indian artists and sportspersons. This rare celebration was led on behalf of India by Dr. Suhail Ajaz Khan, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, who described the event as an “unforgettable experience”. The festival, held at Suwaidi Park, was attended by a large number of tourists, including Saudi and South Asian guests. Saudi Arabia currently hosts about 2.4 million expatriate Indian workers.

The Indian community in Saudi Arabia has increased over the years and is now second only to Bangladesh, where Saudi Arabia has the highest number of foreign workers with about 2.7 million. The Saudi government has introduced several measures, including a wage protection system and background checks of employers, to ensure hassle-free working conditions for expatriate workers in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia, an energy giant and one of the major suppliers of energy to India, is diversifying its economy and is expected to emerge as a tourism magnet for the region in the coming years. As part of the programs, Saudi officials showcased ongoing environmental protection projects that will launch the less-explored tourist destinations of the Saudi Red Sea coast, as well as the country’s ancient trade routes, onto the world tourism map. Tourists from India are expected to visit these places in the near future.

The Indian cultural festival came to an end on Sunday (October 21, 2024) with cricketer Sreesanth being the star invitee of the Saudi government. The underlying theme of this year’s Riyadh Season was the pace of social and cultural changes that are driving sweeping changes in Saudi Arabia’s tradition-bound society. Changes in Saudi society were reflected during the event with widespread participation of Saudi women in various parts of the celebration.

Saudi initiatives to celebrate diversity and harmony were blended with regional development. Against the backdrop of cultural events and the visit of an Indian media delegation, Saudi Deputy Minister of Political Affairs Saud al-Sati flew to New Delhi and met with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday (October 19, 2024) and Saturday (October Had a conversation. 20, 2024). The two delegations also held the second meeting of the Political, Security, Cultural and Social Affairs Committee on 18 October.

“During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in various fields. They also dealt with regional and international developments and issues of mutual interest,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced after the discussions in New Delhi. Saudi Arabia is engaged in finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is leading to Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Cairo last week and spoke with President Al Sisi. The region is also facing tensions due to hostilities between Israel and Iran, which fired hundreds of missiles at Israel after the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli bombing in Beirut.

The engagement season in Saudi Arabia will continue throughout the winter of 2024 as the Riyadh season is followed by the Saudi Exhibition for Innovation, Technologies, Infrastructure and Services which will start here in the first week of November.



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