Deputy Chair of Commission VIII: Saudi Arabia Claims Situation Secure, Optimistic Hajj 2026 Will Proceed Smoothly

Jakarta - The Deputy Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission VIII, Abdul Wachid, stated that the Saudi Arabian government has assured that security conditions ahead of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage are safe. He even said that local authorities are optimistic that this year’s Hajj organisation can run smoothly, despite the heating up of the geopolitical situation, particularly in the Middle East region. “The security situation there. Alhamdulillah, from these preparations, the Saudi Arabian government is optimistic that the 2026 Hajj will still proceed well, the situation is safe,” said Wachid at the DPR RI Building, Jakarta, on Tuesday (7/4/2026). According to him, the Saudi Arabian government also hopes that the geopolitical situation in the Middle East region, particularly involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, can soon subside so that the Hajj pilgrimage runs conducive. “And we are asked to hope and pray, efforts for peace to soon be realised, namely in the Middle East between Iran and Israel, and America. This is always conveyed to us, and the Indonesian Ambassador in Saudi Arabia also conveys the same, as does the Saudi Ambassador in Indonesia,” he concluded. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is preparing several mitigation steps to ensure that the Hajj continues to run safely amid the geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East region. The Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organisational Development, Puji Raharjo, said that the government is not only focusing on technical readiness but also on the safety aspect of the pilgrims. “Pilgrim safety remains our top priority. Considering the escalation conditions in the Middle East, we are preparing several comprehensive mitigation scenarios to ensure that pilgrims can worship safely and peacefully,” said Puji on Wednesday (1/4/2026). “The government is refining the Tanazul scheme (early return/delay) and Murur (passing through Muzdalifah) to maintain the smooth flow of pilgrims,” said Puji.