56 Hajj Flight Groups Depart, Government Warns Against Illegal Hajj Routes

JAKARTA - The spokesperson for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Maria Assegaff, has reminded the public to be wary of the proliferation of non-procedural Hajj offers, such as departures without queuing or official registration. By the fifth day of operations for the 1447 Hijriah Hajj pilgrimage, Friday (24/4/2026), 56 flight groups (kloter) with a total of 22,051 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have been dispatched to Saudi Arabia. Of this number, 17,747 pilgrims in 45 kloter have arrived in Madinah and begun their series of rituals in the Holy Land. Maria stated that the Saudi Arabian government imposes strict sanctions for such violations, ranging from detention, fines, deportation, to re-entry bans of up to 10 years. As a monitoring measure, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has formed a special task force to handle non-procedural Hajj pilgrims, working in collaboration with the Indonesian National Police and immigration authorities. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also invites the public to actively report suspected fraud or illegal Hajj promotions through the Kawal Haji application, provided as the official complaint channel during the Hajj operations. Additionally, the ministry has emphasised to Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups (KBIHU) not to collect additional fees beyond the stipulated provisions. Violations of this will be firmly addressed. The air temperature in the city is expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius with humidity around 25 percent. Pilgrims are advised to drink plenty of water, use head protection, wear comfortable clothing, and manage rest times well. Pilgrims are also urged to follow instructions from officials and kloter leaders, and not to hesitate to contact officials if assistance is needed.