India and Saudi Arabia sign MoU to deepen cultural cooperation and people-to-people ties

Bilateral meeting in Riyadh marks first ministerial dialogue under the Strategic Partnership Council’s Tourism and Cultural Cooperation Committee

Riyadh, Nov 10: India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Cultural Cooperation aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and promoting cultural exchanges across diverse fields including arts, heritage, music, and literature.

The agreement was signed by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, India’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, and Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia, during a bilateral meeting held in Riyadh on November 9.

The MoU seeks to enhance collaboration through cultural festivals, heritage preservation, and policy exchange between institutions of both countries. It also focuses on enabling dialogue between artists and cultural bodies to foster mutual learning and shared appreciation of heritage and creativity.

During the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advance cultural partnership under the vision of the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC). They emphasized that cultural linkages—rooted in centuries of trade, travel, and shared traditions—form a vital bridge between the peoples of both nations.

This meeting also marked the first bilateral engagement of the two ministers as co-chairs of the newly established Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation under the SPC, created during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Jeddah in April 2025.

The new cultural partnership is expected to serve as a cornerstone for expanding India–Saudi relations beyond trade and energy, reflecting both nations’ shared vision of fostering understanding through arts, heritage, and cultural innovation.