17,447 Umrah Pilgrims Repatriated to Indonesia

The Haji Affairs Office at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has reported that 17,447 Indonesian umrah pilgrims have been repatriated to Indonesia amid the escalation of the Iran-Israel-United States conflict. M. Ilham Effendy, Technical Staff for Hajj at the Jeddah Haji Affairs Office, stated that the office will oversee and assist the return of Indonesian umrah pilgrims at King Abdulaziz International Airport.

“We are also continuing to register pilgrims whose return has been delayed and coordinating with travel agencies and relevant authorities so that the repatriation process can be completed promptly,” said Ilham in an official statement from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, reported on Monday, 9 March 2026.

According to data from the Airport Task Force as of 7 March 2026 at 23:00 local time, 341 pilgrims from various umrah travel organisers were still awaiting confirmation of their departure schedules. These pilgrims are temporarily staying at several hotels in Jeddah and Mecca.

The repatriation process is continuing through several airlines, including Saudi Airlines (Saudia), Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and IndiGo. A total of 1,665 pilgrims were scheduled to return to Indonesia via several flights from Jeddah Airport on the same date.

The Jeddah Haji Affairs Office has also provided assistance to 33 pilgrims from one travel agency based in Mecca, who are also staying in hotels whilst awaiting confirmation of their departure. The Jeddah Haji Affairs Office is currently working with travel agencies and Saudi Arabian authorities to ensure that the pilgrims are repatriated without incurring additional costs.

“We continue to seek the best solutions through intensive coordination with various parties, so that pilgrims can return to Indonesia safely and comfortably,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak previously issued a call for umrah pilgrims to postpone their departure schedules to the Holy Land and wait until conditions become more conducive. This measure represents the government’s caution in ensuring the safety of its citizens. The government is closely monitoring developments in the security situation in the Middle East, which is becoming increasingly dynamic and uncertain.