Saudi Arabia, Indonesia Highlight Strategic Ties on Founding Day

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Saudi Arabia marked its Founding Day celebration in Jakarta by highlighting its growing strategic partnership with Indonesia, underscoring expanding religious ties, humanitarian commitments, and rising two-way engagement between the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation and Islam’s birthplace.

Speaking at the Saudi Founding Day reception on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Amudi reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to addressing international and humanitarian issues, as well as matters concerning the global Muslim community.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded on principles and fundamental pillars characterized by a firm approach and a wise vision in its domestic and foreign policies,” Ambassador Faisal said, as quoted by Antara.

He added that this vision has strengthened Saudi Arabia’s position in international forums and in humanitarian and relief efforts worldwide.

The ambassador emphasized the Kingdom’s determination to fulfill its humanitarian responsibilities in addressing key issues across countries and regions “without considering other factors,” describing the commitment as rooted in values upheld by Saudi leaders since the country’s founding.

He also stressed Saudi Arabia’s continued dedication to serving Islam and Muslims worldwide, including its care for the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina and other holy sites.

The Kingdom, he said, will continue to support and advocate for Arab and Islamic causes, reflecting its role as the birthplace of Islam and the qibla for Muslims globally.

Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar congratulated Saudi Arabia on its Founding Day and hopes for stronger bilateral ties. “Every year we celebrate this event. Success and congratulations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our relations have improved, and we will enhance them further,” he said.

Hajj and Umrah Deputy Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak described Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner for Indonesia, saying that maintaining strong relations with the Kingdom is “an obligation.”

He noted that Indonesia is the only country, besides Saudi Arabia, with a dedicated ministry for Hajj and Umrah affairs, and that the two ministries continue to communicate closely to serve Indonesian pilgrims.

Dahnil hopes that visits by Saudi citizens to Indonesia will increase in line with the growing number of Indonesian pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia. “This year alone, 2.6 million of our citizens are performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia, and the number is likely to rise. For Hajj this year, our quota is 221,000 pilgrims,” he said.

Ambassador Faisal also underscored the depth of bilateral relations, supported by close ties between the leaders and people of both nations. He noted that cooperation between King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto is moving toward a more strategic level. “This relationship will continue to be strengthened so that it reaches what we hope for,” he said.

The Founding Day celebration was attended by several senior Indonesian officials, including Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar, Hajj and Umrah Deputy Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, and representatives of foreign embassies in Jakarta. ***