Dahnil States Government Ready to Cover Hajj Pilgrims' Fuel Cost Increases

Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak stated that the government, via the state budget (APBN), will cover around Rp1.77 trillion to mitigate the increase in Hajj costs resulting from the rise in aviation fuel (avtur) prices. However, the detailed mechanism will be recalculated. “So, if we total it up, it’s Rp1.77 trillion. If we add up all the increases, the total burden on the APBN will be around Rp1.77 trillion. We’ll look at the recalculation later,” Dahnil said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4). He acknowledged that the avtur price hike has prompted airlines to request cost increases for Hajj pilgrims. Dahnil noted that Garuda Indonesia has proposed an increase of about Rp7.9 million per pilgrim. Meanwhile, Saudia Airlines has requested a hike of US$480 per pilgrim, equivalent to around Rp8 million. However, Dahnil conveyed that President Prabowo Subianto has decided that these increases must not be passed on to the pilgrims. “In fact, the President has decided that these increases will be covered by the APBN, and we will also discuss with the BPKH regarding Hajj financial management,” he said. Previously, Prabowo also mentioned that Hajj costs for 2026 would decrease by around Rp2 million. Amid a global crisis impacting all sectors, including aviation, Prabowo stated that efforts continue for the people’s benefit. “What we have decided, which I can announce now, is that for the implementation of Hajj in 2026, unless the Saudi Arabian government decides otherwise, if we proceed, we ensure that Hajj costs for 2026 will be reduced by around Rp2 million,” Prabowo said during the ‘Presidential Briefing at the Red and White Cabinet Working Meeting’ in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4). “Even though avtur prices are rising, we dare to lower Hajj costs for this year,” he added. Prabowo said this is a form of the government’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable citizens. “We are now fighting, and Alhamdulillah, the Hajj waiting list is no longer 48 years. Starting in 2026, the longest Hajj waiting time will be 26 years, and I will strive to make it even shorter,” he stated.