The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance has begun implementing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Iftar Program across cities and governorates in India, with the initiative extending to Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka throughout Ramadan 1446 AH, according to an official announcement released through the Saudi Press Agency. The program, carried out by the ministry’s Religious Attaché in India, is expected to reach nearly 100,000 beneficiaries across the four countries, including more than 50,000 people in India alone. Group iftar banquets are being organized in coordination with the Kingdom’s embassies and accredited official and charitable centers, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s enduring commitment to serving Muslims worldwide during the holy month.
Why does this annual act of generosity resonate so deeply far beyond the Arabian Peninsula? For decades, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Iftar Program has stood as one of the most visible expressions of Saudi Arabia’s role as a servant of Islam and Muslims, bringing communities together at the moment of breaking the fast. This year’s edition in South Asia underscores the Kingdom’s steady humanitarian outreach under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, whose support for such initiatives has become a hallmark of Saudi policy during Ramadan.
Context and Background
How has the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Iftar Program become such a fixture of Ramadan worldwide? The initiative is a long-established seasonal project of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance, which oversees religious affairs domestically and coordinates Islamic outreach through Saudi embassies and religious attachés abroad. Each year, the ministry organizes thousands of group iftar banquets across dozens of countries, providing meals to fasting Muslims in regions where economic hardship, distance, or limited infrastructure can make daily iftar a challenge. The program is designed to combine practical relief with a spirit of Islamic solidarity.
In India, the Religious Attaché of the Saudi Embassy is leading implementation in coordination with local partners. The attaché’s office works alongside the Kingdom’s embassies in India and neighboring countries, accredited official and charitable centers, prominent Islamic figures, and Dawah workers active in these countries. This coordination ensures that the program reaches those most in need, including communities in cities and governorates that might otherwise be overlooked by large-scale relief efforts. The same model is being applied in Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Religious Attaché in India.
The scale this year is notable. The total number of beneficiaries in the four targeted countries is expected to reach nearly 100,000 people, with over 50,000 anticipated in India alone. That distribution reflects both the size of India’s Muslim population and the ministry’s emphasis on ensuring that the program’s benefits are spread across the region. The iftar banquets are organized as community gatherings, allowing fasting Muslims to break their fast together in an atmosphere of fellowship and shared faith.
Key Details
What does the program look like on the ground? According to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Iftar Program is executed through the organization of group iftar banquets in coordination with the Kingdom’s embassies in India and neighboring countries. The ministry works with accredited official and charitable centers, as well as prominent Islamic figures and Dawah workers from the ministry active in these countries, to ensure that the program effectively reaches those in need. This approach combines the Kingdom’s diplomatic presence with trusted local networks, allowing meals to be delivered efficiently and respectfully.
The program covers multiple cities and governorates rather than concentrating on a single metropolitan area. In India, that means the Religious Attaché is coordinating with local organizations across a wide geography, while in Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, the ministry is working through its embassy channels and local partners to identify beneficiaries. The total reach of nearly 100,000 people across the four countries makes this one of the larger regional components of the Kingdom’s global Ramadan outreach, and the more than 50,000 beneficiaries expected in India underline the country’s central place in this year’s effort.
Beneficiaries of the program have praised the Kingdom’s leadership in serving Islam and Muslims worldwide, praying to Allah Almighty to reward Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for their blessed efforts in supporting Muslims, particularly during the holy month. Such expressions of gratitude are a recurring feature of the program, which is widely seen as a tangible extension of the Kingdom’s role as the home of Islam’s holiest sites.
The ministry’s use of Dawah workers and Islamic figures as implementers also gives the program a community-building dimension. By working through respected local voices, the initiative strengthens ties between Saudi religious institutions and Muslim communities abroad, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a reliable partner in religious and humanitarian affairs. The program is carried out during Ramadan 1446 AH, aligning with the Islamic calendar that structures the ministry’s annual outreach schedule.
International and Regional Impact
How does an iftar program in South Asia connect to Saudi Arabia’s broader global role? The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Iftar Program is part of a wider portfolio of Saudi humanitarian and religious initiatives that span continents during Ramadan. By reaching Muslims in India, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, the Kingdom demonstrates that its service to Islam extends well beyond the Arabian Peninsula. The program also complements Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic engagement in South Asia, where the Kingdom maintains strong ties and growing economic and cultural partnerships.
For the beneficiary countries, the impact is both immediate and symbolic. In India, where Muslims constitute a large and diverse community, the iftar banquets provide practical support during a month of fasting while also reinforcing a sense of connection to the wider Islamic world. In Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, the program reaches smaller Muslim populations whose needs may receive less international attention. The presence of Saudi-funded iftar gatherings in these countries signals that the Kingdom’s religious outreach is inclusive of Muslim communities across the region, regardless of size or geography.
The program also reflects the Kingdom’s approach to religious diplomacy, which emphasizes service, scholarship, and community support rather than political messaging. By coordinating with embassies and accredited charitable organizations, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance ensures that the initiative operates through official and recognized channels, maintaining transparency and accountability. This model has helped the program earn trust among local partners and beneficiaries alike, and it supports Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a stabilizing and generous actor in the Muslim world.
Economic and Strategic Significance
What strategic value does the Iftar Program hold for Saudi Arabia’s global relationships? Beyond its humanitarian purpose, the initiative strengthens people-to-people ties between the Kingdom and Muslim communities in South Asia. These relationships form part of the broader foundation for Saudi Arabia’s economic and diplomatic engagement in the region, where the Kingdom is a major source of energy, investment, and labor-market opportunities. By supporting Ramadan iftar gatherings, the program reinforces goodwill that can translate into deeper cooperation across a range of fields.
The program also aligns with the Kingdom’s growing emphasis on cultural and religious exchange as components of its international outreach. As Saudi Arabia expands its global partnerships under Vision 2030, initiatives that showcase the Kingdom’s role as a custodian of Islamic heritage and a provider of humanitarian support help to diversify its international profile. The Iftar Program is a low-cost, high-impact example of soft power in action, reaching tens of thousands of beneficiaries while generating positive recognition for the Kingdom’s leadership and institutions.
In addition, the program’s coordination with embassies and charitable centers creates a template that can be adapted to other forms of assistance, from food security to educational support. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance has long used Ramadan as a period of intensified outreach, and the experience gained in India, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka contributes to the ministry’s institutional knowledge for future seasons. The result is a program that delivers immediate benefits while building long-term capacity for Saudi religious and humanitarian diplomacy.
Vision 2030 Alignment
How does the Iftar Program fit into Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030? Vision 2030 seeks to position the Kingdom as a global leader not only economically but also culturally and spiritually, with a strong emphasis on serving Islam and Muslims. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Iftar Program embodies this dimension of the vision by extending the Kingdom’s hospitality and religious stewardship beyond its borders. Under the guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Saudi Arabia has continued to expand initiatives that serve Muslim communities worldwide.
The program also reflects the vision’s emphasis on international cooperation and humanitarian responsibility. By working through embassies, accredited charitable centers, and local Islamic figures, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance demonstrates the kind of partnership-based approach that Vision 2030 promotes across sectors. As Ramadan 1446 AH unfolds, the iftar banquets in India, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka stand as a reminder that Saudi Arabia’s global role is rooted in service, generosity, and a commitment to the well-being of Muslims everywhere. The program’s expected reach of nearly 100,000 beneficiaries is a measure of that commitment in action.
20 Questions
Q1. What is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Iftar Program?
A1. It is an annual Ramadan initiative of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance that organizes group iftar banquets for fasting Muslims in countries around the world, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to serving Islam and Muslims globally.
Q2. Which countries are covered by this year’s program under the Religious Attaché in India?
A2. The program covers India, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. These countries fall under the jurisdiction of the Religious Attaché in India, which is leading implementation during Ramadan 1446 AH.
Q3. How many beneficiaries are expected across the four countries?
A3. The total number of beneficiaries in the four targeted countries is expected to reach nearly 100,000 people, with more than 50,000 beneficiaries anticipated in India alone.
Q4. Who is implementing the program on the ground?
A4. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance, represented by its Religious Attaché in India, is implementing the program in coordination with the Kingdom’s embassies, accredited official and charitable centers, and prominent Islamic figures.
Q5. How are the iftar banquets organized?
A5. The program is executed through group iftar banquets organized in coordination with the Kingdom’s embassies in India and neighboring countries, in collaboration with accredited official and charitable centers and Dawah workers active in these countries.
Q6. Why is India a major focus of the program?
A6. India has a large and diverse Muslim population, and more than 50,000 beneficiaries are expected there. The Religious Attaché in India coordinates the program across multiple cities and governorates to reach those in need.
Q7. What is the role of Saudi embassies in the program?
A7. Saudi embassies in India and neighboring countries coordinate with local partners, charitable centers, and Islamic figures to ensure the iftar banquets reach beneficiaries effectively and are organized through official and recognized channels.
Q8. When does the program take place?
A8. The program is being carried out during Ramadan 1446 AH, aligning with the Islamic calendar that structures the ministry’s annual schedule of religious and humanitarian outreach.
Q9. How have beneficiaries responded to the program?
A9. Beneficiaries have praised the Kingdom’s leadership in serving Islam and Muslims worldwide, praying to Allah Almighty to reward Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts.
Q10. What is the significance of the program’s name?
A10. The program is named after the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, a title held by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, reflecting the Kingdom’s role as guardian of Islam’s holiest sites and its commitment to Muslims worldwide.
Q11. How does the program support Muslim communities in Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka?
A11. It provides iftar meals to Muslim communities in these countries through group banquets organized with local partners, ensuring that smaller Muslim populations also benefit from the Kingdom’s Ramadan outreach.
Q12. What role do Dawah workers play in the program?
A12. Dawah workers from the ministry, along with prominent Islamic figures, help implement the program in the targeted countries, using their local knowledge and community ties to ensure the iftar banquets reach those in need.
Q13. How does the program reflect Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian approach?
A13. The program combines practical relief with Islamic solidarity, delivering meals during Ramadan while reinforcing the Kingdom’s reputation as a generous and reliable actor in the Muslim world through official and transparent channels.
Q14. Does the program operate in cities or rural areas?
A14. The program is implemented across various cities and governorates in the targeted countries, ensuring that beneficiaries in different locations, including areas outside major metropolitan centers, can participate in the iftar banquets.
Q15. What is the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance’s role?
A15. The ministry oversees the program domestically and internationally, coordinating with religious attachés, embassies, and local partners to organize iftar banquets and ensure the initiative reaches beneficiaries efficiently and respectfully.
Q16. How does the program strengthen Saudi-Indian relations?
A16. By serving Muslim communities in India during Ramadan, the program builds goodwill and people-to-people ties, complementing the strong diplomatic, economic, and cultural partnership between the Kingdom and India.
Q17. What makes this year’s program notable?
A17. The expected reach of nearly 100,000 beneficiaries across four countries, including more than 50,000 in India, makes this year’s edition a significant regional component of the Kingdom’s global Ramadan outreach.
Q18. How does the program align with Vision 2030?
A18. Vision 2030 emphasizes Saudi Arabia’s global role in serving Islam and Muslims. The Iftar Program reflects this by extending the Kingdom’s hospitality and religious stewardship beyond its borders through partnership-based humanitarian outreach.
Q19. Are the iftar banquets open to all Muslims in the targeted areas?
A19. The program is designed to reach those in need through coordination with local partners, charitable centers, and Islamic figures, ensuring that beneficiaries across different communities can take part in the group iftar gatherings.
Q20. What message does the program send to the international community?
A20. It demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s enduring commitment to serving Muslims worldwide, showcasing the Kingdom’s humanitarian values and its leadership under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the holy month of Ramadan.
Reader Feedback
We value your thoughts. Please share your feedback on this article.
Your feedback helps us improve our coverage.
Related articles
Saudi Arabia Delivers 5 Tons of Dates to Azerbaijan for Ramadan
Saudi FM Receives Call from Cypriot Counterpart
SDRPY Advances Yemen’s Education in Line with SDG 4
Light Rain Falls Across Riyadh, SPA Reports
Islamic Affairs Ministry Hosts Ramadan Iftar for Muslims in Albania
Saudi FM Speaks with Zambian President in Diplomatic Call