Deputy Hajj Minister Explains 'War Ticket' Hajj Mechanism Without Queuing: Full Payment and Not from Regular Quota

VIVA – Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah (Wamenhaj) Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak has explained the mechanism of the ‘war ticket’ scheme in organising the Hajj pilgrimage, although it is currently still in the study phase or merely a concept.

At the closing of the National Working Meeting of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) in Tangerang, Banten, on Friday, 10 April 2026, Wamenhaj Dahnil stated that the scheme is projected to operate alongside the long-standing Hajj queuing mechanism.

“In the future, if Saudi Arabia opens a large quota, we will introduce two schemes. The first is the existing queuing scheme. The second scheme, as termed by the Minister (Irfan Yusuf), is the war ticket,” said Wamenhaj Dahnil.

Wamenhaj Dahnil said the term ‘war ticket’ emerged as a formulation for transforming Hajj management to enable the government to shorten the current average Hajj waiting period of 26.4 years. He explained that the government, together with the House of Representatives (DPR RI), will later determine the Hajj Organisational Cost (BPIH) based on real calculations without subsidies from Hajj financial management funds.

“For example, if set at Rp200 million per person, that becomes the full amount paid by pilgrims choosing this scheme (war ticket),” said Wamenhaj Dahnil.

For pilgrims opting for the queuing route, he said, they will still receive subsidies or benefit values. He emphasised that pricing determination is under state authority, ensuring no liberalisation or free market mechanism in Hajj organisation.

According to him, the quota for the war ticket scheme could come from two sources. First, from additional quotas provided by the Saudi Arabian Government, not from the regular annual quota given by Saudi Arabia.

Second, based on projections from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The kingdom’s authorities aim to increase the global Hajj quota from around two million to more than five million people by 2030.

This quota increase is seen as having a significant impact on Hajj financing needs. Currently, with around 203,000 regular prospective pilgrims, the total Hajj organisation funds reach Rp18.2 trillion. If the number of prospective Hajj participants rises to 500,000, the funding requirement is estimated to exceed Rp40 trillion.