An Invitation to India's Republic Day Celebration

Capt. Mir Shakeel UrRahman and Capt. Amal Ahmed were honoured to receive an official invitation from the Consulate General of India, Jeddah , to attend the 77th Republic Day Reception on 26 January 2026 at Park Hyatt Jeddah.

The invitation, extended by H.E. Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, Consul General of India, Jeddah, brought us together with members of the diplomatic corps, senior Saudi officials, business and community representatives, and distinguished guests.

For Indian Saudi Couple Travellers, the occasion represented another meaningful opportunity to support the enduring friendship and growing cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia through cultural understanding, tourism and people-to-people relations.

A Symbolic Gesture of Sustainability & Friendship

The reception was honoured by the presence of H.E. Fareed bin Saad AlShehri, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Makkah Region, who attended as the Chief Guest.

One of the significant moments of the evening was the symbolic watering of a Neem tree under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative.

H.E. Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, H.E. Fareed bin Saad AlShehri, H.E. Capt. Salim Ali Mehwari, Director General Executive of Jeddah Islamic Port, together with members of the diplomatic community, participated in the ceremonial activity.

The gesture represented environmental responsibility, resilience and a shared commitment to values that extend beyond the formal celebration itself.

Celebrating India's Heritage Through Culture

The Republic Day programme also featured vibrant Indian cultural performances celebrating the country's rich traditions, diversity and heritage.

The performances added a strong cultural dimension to the diplomatic gathering and created an atmosphere in which India's heritage could be experienced and shared with guests from Saudi Arabia and the wider diplomatic community.

For us, these cultural moments reflected the important role that culture and people-to-people interaction play in strengthening understanding and friendship between India and Saudi Arabia.

From Cultural Storytelling to India–Saudi Cooperation

The programme also featured the release of a teaser for India–Saudi Investment Connect (Edition 2), highlighting another dimension of the growing relationship between the two countries.

This was followed by a screening of Kantara, an Indian film presented as part of the evening's celebration of India's rich storytelling heritage.

The combination of cultural presentation and investment dialogue reflected the broader character of the occasion: celebrating India's heritage while also creating space for stronger economic, cultural and people-to-people connections between India and Saudi Arabia.