Amid Iran–Israel conflict, DIY prospective Hajj pilgrims’ departure remains on track

YOGYAKARTA — Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) for the Special Region of Yogyakarta has confirmed that the 2026 haj departure schedule will proceed as planned, despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East following military strikes by Israel and the United States against Iran. Acting Head of the Regional Office of Hajj (Plt Kepala Kanwil Kemenhaj DIY), Jauhar Mustofa, said there has been no change in central government policy regarding the haj pilgrimage. ‘So far it remains the same, there has not been a change to the haj departure schedule,’ Jauhar said on Wednesday (4 March 2026). To date, there has been no circular letter (SE) or special policy to alter this year’s haj preparation scheme. The first batch of haj pilgrims from the embarkation point at Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) in Kulonprogo is still scheduled as planned and will commence on 21 April. ‘It remains on schedule,’ he said. The Indonesia–Saudi Arabia flight routes, whether via Jeddah or Madinah, are still operating normally. As a precautionary step in case the escalation of the conflict affects flight schedules, the Hajj Affairs Office (KUH), together with the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh and Jeddah, has formed three dedicated teams. The teams will be stationed at airports to monitor and accompany Indonesian pilgrims, especially those returning home, and to ensure that no pilgrims are left stranded if flights are disrupted. ‘These teams monitor and accompany Indonesian pilgrims, especially those returning to Indonesia. So if there are cancellations or obstacles, they can be addressed immediately,’ he said. He expressed hope that tensions in the Middle East do not spill over to disrupt the activities of Indonesian pilgrims, especially with the hajj season approaching. Earlier reports indicated that DIY’s regular hajj quota for 2026 increased by 601 to 3,748 pilgrims, from 3,147 the previous year. The increase comes in line with the quota distribution scheme based on interprovincial waiting lists. ‘Last year our quota was 3,147; this year we received an additional 601 — the spillover from other provinces whose quotas were reduced due to adjustments based on waiting lists. The newly applied scheme is said to be fair, because before the new scheme the interprovincial hajj waiting period was very uneven,’ he said.