Amphuri Appreciates Saudi Arabia's Assurance of Safe Hajj in 2026 Despite Iran Conflict
The General Secretary of the Indonesian Muslim Hajj and Umrah Organisers Association (Amphuri), Zaky Zakariya, has expressed appreciation for the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, who has affirmed that the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage will take place safely and as planned, despite the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
This certainty regarding the 2026 Hajj aligns with statements from Saudi authorities and an official circular from the local government.
“This is in line with the circular dated 2 March 2026 from the Saudi Ministry of Interior, which states that the country is in a safe condition,” Zaky said when contacted on Wednesday (25/3).
He added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has comprehensively considered security aspects through coordination with various domestic and international parties.
According to Zaky, there are several reasons underpinning the maintained security situation in Saudi Arabia. First, Saudi Arabia is not directly involved in the conflict with Iran. Second, the attacks that occurred are said to target only specific facilities related to US interests.
Furthermore, Zaky noted that Saudi Arabia possesses a modern and sophisticated missile defence system, enabling it to anticipate various potential threats.
From a transportation perspective, the travel routes for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims are also deemed safe, particularly if using direct flights without transiting in conflict-prone countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Zaky also emphasised the spiritual aspect as a reinforcement of Muslim faith in performing the Hajj pilgrimage.
“As spiritual motivation, at least there are five verses in the Quran that explain that the Holy Land will be granted security by Allah,” he stated.
With these various considerations, Amphuri urges the public to remain calm and not be influenced by issues that could cause concern regarding this year’s Hajj implementation.
Mustolih believes the Indonesian government needs to request clear security guarantees from Saudi authorities, given that Indonesia is the largest sender of Hajj pilgrims in the world.
A member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives highlights the possibility of flight route changes affecting the cost of the 2026 Hajj. This is because airspace in the Middle East is disrupted due to the Iran-Israel conflict.
Minister of Religious Affairs Gus Irfan assures that Umrah pilgrims in Mecca and Medina remain safe despite escalating Middle East conflicts.
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Dahnil Anzar emphasises that the safety of 2026 Hajj pilgrims is the top priority amid Middle East dynamics. See mitigation scenarios and Umrah appeals here.
The government is preparing several scenarios for organising this year’s Hajj pilgrimage as tensions rise in the Middle East region to ensure the safety of Indonesian pilgrims.
As of 2 December at 10:50 WIB, the number of Hajj pilgrims who have undergone checks is around 81,654 regular pilgrims and 202 special Hajj pilgrims.
The government has set the official schedule for the 2026 Hajj organisation, aligned with Saudi government policies.