All Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims Placed in Markaziyah, Madinah

Jakarta (ANTARA) - All regular Indonesian Hajj pilgrims this year are placed in the Markaziyah area or the main ring around the Prophet’s Mosque, the location closest to the main worship centre in the city of Madinah.

The Head of the Accommodation Section of the Indonesian Hajj Organising Committee in Saudi Arabia (PPIH), Zaenal Muttaqin, stated that the Markaziyah area is a favourite spot for pilgrims from various countries due to its strategic location, making hotel availability in the region very limited.

“All regular Indonesian Hajj pilgrims, around 203,000 people, can all be placed in the Markaziyah area,” said Zaenal, quoted from a recording received by the reporter on Saturday.

He explained that although hotel capacity is limited and contested by many countries, Indonesia has successfully obtained full allocation in that area for all its pilgrims.

According to Zaenal, the characteristics of hotels in Markaziyah vary, with room capacities ranging from two to more than four people. However, the placement prioritises ease of access for pilgrims to perform worship.

“The most important thing is that pilgrims can pray at the Prophet’s Mosque at any time without much difficulty, just by walking,” he said.

He added that every report received will be immediately followed up by officers in the Madinah work area (daker) along with the field sector team.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that not all problems can be resolved instantly as they require coordination with service providers in Saudi Arabia, including hotel owners and local managers.

“If everything runs smoothly, the pilgrim placement process from receiving the key to entering the room can be completed in 15 minutes. But if there are obstacles, it certainly requires a process,” he said.

Zaenal also emphasised that officers routinely conduct daily monitoring by visiting hotels to ensure that accommodation, catering, and health services for pilgrims operate optimally.

He also asked the public and families of pilgrims in Indonesia to understand that every complaint handling process has varying resolution times, depending on the type of problem faced.