Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s short visit to Saudi Arabia in April this year cost the Indian government over ₹15.54 crore, according to information released under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The details were shared by the Consulate General of India in Jeddah in response to an RTI filed by activist Ajay Basudev Bose from Maharashtra.
The biggest chunk of the expenditure — more than ₹10.26 crore — was spent on hotel rentals, while transport arrangements cost another ₹4.05 crore. The remaining amount of around ₹1.21 crore has not been broken down in the RTI reply.
“What the Consulate has provided shows that the government spent an unusually high amount on just a few hours in Jeddah,” Bose told reporters after receiving the response.
The Prime Minister was scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia for two days, April 22 and 23. However, after a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, he cut his trip short and returned to Delhi in less than 12 hours. Modi had landed in Jeddah on the afternoon of April 22 but flew back by the morning of April 23, skipping the official state dinner.
Critics are questioning why so much money was spent on hotels when, in state visits, the host country is usually responsible for providing accommodation. “If the Saudi government was prepared to handle hospitality, why did we spend over ten crore rupees on hotels alone?” asked a senior opposition leader.
When compared with Modi’s other foreign trips this year, the Saudi visit stands out as one of the costliest. A four-day trip to France in February cost ₹25.59 crore, which averages to about ₹6.40 crore per day. A one-day visit to the United States cost ₹16.54 crore, while a one-day Thailand trip cost ₹4.92 crore. In comparison, Modi’s brief stay of just over 12 hours in Saudi Arabia cost ₹15.54 crore, making it the second most expensive foreign visit of 2025 so far.
The high expenses have revived debates about government spending on prime ministerial foreign tours. Historical records show that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visits were far less expensive. For example, his 2011 trip to the United States cost ₹10.74 crore, and his 2013 trip to Russia cost ₹9.95 crore.
Rights activists and opposition parties are now demanding greater transparency and accountability. “Citizens have a right to know why taxpayers’ money is being spent in this manner,” said Bose, adding that he plans to file further RTIs to get detailed answers.
The Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office have yet to issue an official comment.
