Batam's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says Umrah pilgrim departures remain on schedule

God willing, tomorrow, 7 March and 9 March, some will depart for Umrah. Batam’s Kemenhaj office in the Riau Islands said that Umrah departures from Batam will proceed as scheduled, even as developments in the Middle East affect international flights. Head of Batam’s Kemenhaj Syahbudi stressed that there have been no cancellations or delays for Batam-based pilgrims for March through April 2026. ‘There are no cancellations. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior on 2 March affirmed that life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is normal across all regions,’ he said in Batam. He explained that Saudi authorities also emphasised that the security of the kingdom, visitors, and all residents remains a top priority for the local government. With this, Batam-based pilgrims can depart as scheduled. ‘God willing, tomorrow 7 and 9 March there will be Umrah departures,’ Syahbudi said. For a single Umrah group, he continued, it typically consists of around 45 people per group, depending on the Penyelenggara Perjalanan Ibadah Umrah (PPIU). Meanwhile, the central Kemenhaj’s official advice dated 28 February 2026 states that in light of developments in the Middle East, some flights to and from Saudi Arabia may be rescheduled, delayed, or cancelled. Pilgrims are urged to regularly check flight status before heading to the airport and to remain calm and follow official directions from airlines, PPIUs, and related authorities. The Indonesian Kemenhaj, together with the Indonesian Representation in Saudi Arabia, continues to coordinate to ensure Indonesian pilgrims remain safe and well served. Families of pilgrims back home are urged to stay calm and obtain official information through their respective PPIUs to confirm developments. With this assurance, Batam’s Kemenhaj hopes pilgrims stay focused on preparing for the rites and are not influenced by unverified information.