10,060 Umrah Pilgrims Repatriated to Home Country Amid Middle East Conflict
The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Jeddah has confirmed that the repatriation process for umrah pilgrims to Indonesia is being conducted with intensified supervision and accompaniment. On 3 March 2026 at 23:40 local time, 2,278 umrah pilgrims were in the process of returning via King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah. This brings the total number of pilgrims repatriated from 28 February 2026 to 3 March 2026 to 10,060.
The supervision is carried out directly by the Haj and Umrah Technical Staff at KJRI Jeddah across the passenger service areas, particularly in Terminal 1 and the Hajj Terminal. This step is part of the state’s commitment to ensuring maximum protection for all pilgrims.
Haj and Umrah Technical Staff at KJRI Jeddah, Muhammad Ilham Effendy, stressed that protecting pilgrims is the top priority at every stage of repatriation given the escalation of the Middle East conflict.
“We ensure all pilgrims receive direct accompaniment, from check-in to departure. The state is on hand to provide protection, especially for pilgrims facing flight-related difficulties,” he said, as quoted in an official release on Thursday (5/3).
Although the majority of pilgrims have returned as scheduled, as of 3 March 2026 there were 300 pilgrims experiencing flight delays (stranded). The pilgrims are spread across Jeddah and Mecca, with main obstacles including onward flight schedules and visa coordination and transit flights.
Ilham added that while the number of those held is significant, all conditions can be managed in a coordinated and controlled manner.
“We remain on 24-hour standby. The principle is that no pilgrim should feel left behind. Protection and accompaniment are responsibilities we carry out fully,” he emphasised.
On 3 March 2026 there were no umrah pilgrims repatriated through Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
Overall, the supervision and accompaniment process ran smoothly. KJRI Jeddah ensures that all officers remain on standby to guarantee the safety, comfort and certainty of the pilgrims’ repatriation to the homeland. (H-3)