22 Facts About Ausaf Sayeed

Ausaf Sayeed was born on 18 September 1963 and is a retired Indian Ambassador who worked as the Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs.

Ausaf Sayeed was former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia and Yemen and former High Commissioner to Seychelles.

Ausaf Sayeed is an author, columnist, business strategist and an avid West Asia observer.

Ausaf Sayeed has 34 years of diplomatic experience, having served in countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Denmark, Yemen, Chicago and Seychelles.

Ausaf Sayeed served as Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs from 15 March 2022 to 30 September 2023.

Ausaf Sayeed previously served as the Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia from April 2019 to March 2022.

Ausaf Sayeed has worked on political, economic, consular, and cultural issues, besides Hajj management.

Ausaf Sayeed launched several business groupings during his assignment in the Persian Gulf countries to promote trade and economic relations between India and Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

Ausaf Sayeed was associated with the inauguration of the Maulana Azad Cultural Center in Cairo.

Ausaf Sayeed was closely involved with the formation of the Saudi-India Friendship Society in 2006 under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Information and Culture.

Ausaf Sayeed was associated with the Saudi-India Civil Society Dialogue.

Ausaf Sayeed was instrumental in organizing the visit of the First All Women Saudi Student Delegation to India in 2007.

Ausaf Sayeed formed the Asian Consuls General Club in Jeddah in 2005, which was composed of Consuls General from thirteen Asian countries.

Ausaf Sayeed was instrumental in the publication of the book Historic Indo-Arab Ties by the Indian Consulate.

Ausaf Sayeed was the main architect behind the introduction of external Urdu examinations of MANUU in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the benefit of Non-resident Indians.

Ausaf Sayeed has advocated extensive use of digital technology to learn, and spread the Urdu language, especially among the youth and children.

Ausaf Sayeed re-launched the Indo-Saudi Medical Forum with chapters in Jeddah and Riyadh to boost cooperation in the healthcare sector between India and Saudi Arabia.

Ausaf Sayeed was one of the key negotiators to set up the Strategic Partnership Council between India and Saudi Arabia during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's visit to Riyadh in October 2019.

Ausaf Sayeed was instrumental in the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Yoga between India and Saudi Arabia, the first such agreement signed by any Islamic nation with India.

Ausaf Sayeed has compiled and edited the Urdu book Kulliyat-e-Awaz Sayeed, which consists of the entire Urdu literary works of his father late Awaz Sayeed.

The book Kulliyat-e-Awaz Ausaf Sayeed was released by Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari on 13 August 2009.

Ausaf Sayeed is working on two other books, Haj: an Indian Experience through the Ages and Indian Rubats, Madarsas and Wakfs in the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah.