Smoke rises over the city amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. File | Photo credit: Reuters
An Indian citizen was killed in an Iranian missile attack that hit the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday (March 18, 2026), the Indian embassy in the kingdom said on Friday (March 20, 2026).
“The Embassy of India expresses its deepest condolences over the tragic death of an Indian national in Riyadh due to the recent events of March 18. The Embassy is in touch with the family and local authorities. We remain committed to extending all possible assistance in this matter,” it said in a post on X. This is the first Indian fatality reported from Outside Saudi Arabia since early February 2008 on to the US-Iran Department. that so far six Indians have died across the region due to ongoing hostilities and one is missing and presumed dead. Diplomatic sources told The Hindu that an Indian national is believed to have died after being hit by missile debris.
Also Read: West Asia War Update 20 March 2026
This is the second Indian death reported from Saudi Arabia since the start of the US-Israel war against Iran on 28 February. The Hindu reported that an Indian citizen was killed along with a Bangladeshi national when they were hit by a military projectile on March 8.
26 thousand Indians in Saudi Arabia
India and Saudi Arabia have been in contact at the highest levels since the start of the war, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking to Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan also spoke over phone on March 15 to discuss “developments in the region and ongoing efforts in this regard”. In such telephone conversations, the Indian government focused on ensuring the safety of Indian nationals in the region.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, about 26,000 Indians live in Saudi Arabia as foreign workers and white-collar professionals. The Indian embassy issued an advisory urging them to “remain vigilant and strictly follow security instructions”.
The strike on Riyadh was followed a day later by an Iranian missile attack on the SAMREF refinery in the port city of Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s west coast. This has emerged as an alternative energy route for India as Saudi Arabia seeks to divert its oil supply chain from its east coast in the Persian Gulf to its west coast in the Red Sea.
Published – 20 March 2026 16:54 IST
