Biography
Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed
Former Secretary (CPV & OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, GoI
Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Yemen
High Commissioner to Seychelles and Consul General in Chicago and Jeddah
Member, Board of Advisors – Hegemoniq
Dr. Ausaf Sayeed (born 1963) is a former career diplomat belonging to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), 1989 Batch. He holds a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Geology from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, and an Advanced Diploma in Arabic from the American University in Cairo. He is a recipient of the Shri Y.G.K. Murthy Gold Medal from Osmania University.
During his distinguished career, he served as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of External Affairs (2022–2023). In this capacity, he was responsible for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and West Asia North Africa (WANA) divisions, alongside handling all matters pertaining to Consular, Passport, Visa, Extradition, Overseas Emigration, and NRI & Overseas Indian Affairs.
He has served as Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia (2019–2022) and Yemen (2010–2013), and as High Commissioner of India to Seychelles (2017–2019). His other diplomatic assignments include serving as the Consul General of India in Chicago (2013–2017) and Jeddah.
A scholar-diplomat, author, and business strategist, Dr. Sayeed played a pivotal role as a key negotiator in setting up the Strategic Partnership Council between India and Saudi Arabia in 2019. He was instrumental in signing the historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Yoga with Saudi Arabia, the first such agreement with an Islamic nation. For his efforts to promote Yoga in the Kingdom, he was presented with the prestigious Yoga Mithra Award by S-Vyasa University.
During his tenure in Jeddah, he founded the Asian Consuls General Club (ACGC) in 2005 and organized major cultural initiatives, including the first-ever India Festival (2005), the First Asian Festival (2006), and the First Asian Film Festival in Saudi Arabia (2008). He was also instrumental in the publication of the book Historic Indo-Arab Ties by the Indian Consulate.
Ambassador Ausaf Sayeed brings to Hegemoniq profound expertise in West Asian geopolitics, cultural diplomacy, and energy security. His deep scholarly background and extensive experience in the Gulf region provide a critical perspective on India’s strategic depth in its extended neighborhood.