The MoU was signed on June 21, International Yoga Day. Yoga has been legal in Saudi Arabia since 2017, but this is the first time a memorandum of understanding has been struck to promote it.
Saudi Arabia signed a MoU with India on June 21 for promoting Yoga in the country. It is the first Gulf country to do so.
The world celebrated International Yoga Day on June 21.
A Yoga protocol is completed to suit the local laws in Saudi Arabia. It will be implemented soon.
The MoU was signed between India's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, and Abdullah Faisal Hammad, Director General, Leaders Development Institute, Ministry of Sports.
The nodal authority in India would be Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of AYUSH.
Under the direction of Nouf Marwaai, a Saudi Yoga Committee has been formed. For years, Marwaai, the founder of the Arab Yoga Foundation, has been working to popularise Yoga in Saudi Arabia. The Government of India awarded her with Padma Shri in 2018.
After the push from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United Nations declared June 21 as International Yoga Day.
