An Indian citizen died in an Iranian missile strike that hit the Saudi Arabian capital of 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 on the tragic demise of an Indian national in Riyadh due to recent events on March 18th. 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 Saudi Arabia since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. The Ministry of External Affairs said that so far six Indians have died across the region because of the ongoing hostilities and one is missing and is presumed to be dead.Diplomatic sources told The Hindu that the Indian national is believed to have died after being hit by missile debris.

Also read: West Asia war updates on March 20, 2026

This is the second Indian fatality reported from Saudi Arabia since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. The Hindu had reported that an Indian citizen was killed alongside a Bangladeshi national on March 8, when they were hit by a military projectile.

26 lakh Indians in Saudi

India and Saudi Arabia have been in contact at the highest levels since the beginning of the war, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking to Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia 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 has focused on ensuring the safety of Indian nationals in the region.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, around 26 lakh Indians live in Saudi Arabia as expat workers and white collar professionals. The Indian embassy has issued advisories urging them to “remain vigilant, and strictly adhere to the safety guidelines”.

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 had emerged as an alternative energy route for India as Saudi Arabia tries to divert its crude supply chain from its east coast on the embattled Persian Gulf to its west coast on the Red Sea.