Riyadh, Feb 28 The Saudi Arabian leadership Sunday lauded the contributions of 1.8-million strong expatriate Indian population to the development of their nation during the course of their engagements with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here.

"The Saudi dignitaries expressed very positive feelings about the presence of the Indian community here and the very important contribution they have made to this country," Latha Reddy, secretary (east) in the external affairs ministry, told the media.

Indians make up the largest expatriate community in this Gulf nation.

Apart from professionals across various sectors, a vast number of Indians are engaged as blue-collar workers in the country's construction sector.

"They (the Saudi leadership) said that through their (expatriate Indians') trustworthiness and dependability, they have truly become not just the largest community of foreign nationals here in Saudi Arabia but also one of the most dependable," Reddy said.