Arrival of South Sulawesi Group 43 Pilgrims Concludes 2026 Hajj Operations

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reported that the Hajj pilgrims from South Sulawesi, flight group 43 (UPG-43), arrived in Indonesia at 17.05 WITA, marking the official end of the Indonesian Hajj operations for 1447 Hijri/2026 AD. “Alhamdulillah, all Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have returned home safely. On behalf of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, I declare that the operational implementation of the 1447 Hijri/2026 Hajj pilgrimage has officially concluded,” said the Minister of Hajj during a press conference followed online from Jakarta on Wednesday. Throughout the 2026 Hajj operations, the government dispatched 527 flight groups carrying 202,636 regular pilgrims from 16 embarkation points across Indonesia. Additionally, the Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK) dispatched 16,585 special pilgrims and 1,016 special officers. This year’s Hajj implementation also faced significant challenges in serving pilgrims with diverse characteristics, including 44,247 elderly individuals, 170,200 high-risk pilgrims, 370 with special needs, and 275 wheelchair users. All accommodation, catering, transportation, religious guidance, and health services were prepared to ensure every pilgrim could perform their worship safely, comfortably, and with devotion. During the operations, the government distributed approximately 24.18 million meal boxes, operated 15,212 intercity Hajj buses and 11,980 Shalawat bus trips, and provided tiered health services through medical personnel in each flight group, satellite clinics, the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic, and cooperation with Saudi Arabian hospitals. In terms of governance, the Ministry introduced several key innovations, including a more equitable provincial quota allocation, a reduction in Hajj costs without compromising service quality, the addition of fast-track embarkation points, service digitalisation, and the early finalisation of various service contracts in Saudi Arabia. The Minister emphasised that the end of Hajj operations does not mark the end of efforts to improve services. In the near future, the Ministry will conduct a comprehensive evaluation with all stakeholders to refine the implementation of the Hajj pilgrimage in the coming years. “We note that there is still homework to be done, particularly regarding services in Mina and strengthening the implementation of health screening (istithaah). All these notes will be the focus of the evaluation so that future Hajj operations become more professional, safe, comfortable, and oriented towards the needs of the pilgrims,” the Minister stated.