Doval’s Riyadh visit on PM’s instructions, part of government outreach to Gulf: MEA

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval’s surprise one-day visit to Riyadh was part of an outreach by the government amidst a tense phase in the West Asian conflict, and took place, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions.

The NSA’s visit was announced late on Sunday (April 19, 2026) night by the MEA, at the end of his meetings with a number of senior Ministers. In Riyadh, Mr. Doval held talks with his counterpart, National Security Adviser Musaed Al-Aiban. He also met Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, both princes in the Saudi royal family. He was received at the airport by Saudi Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al Sati, who was earlier the Saudi Ambassador to India for about a decade from 2012-2021.