DPR Commission VIII Confident Middle East Conflict Will Not Disrupt 2026 Hajj

Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Singgih Januratmoko, expressed optimism that the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage would proceed despite the Middle East tensions intensifying after the United States and Israel attacked Iran. He believed the potential conflict would not reach Mecca or Medina.

‘Dari saya, flight routes should be left to the airlines. I see that the potential for conflict will not reach Mecca or Medina. The Hajj must proceed according to schedule and plan, Insha’Allah,’ Singgih told reporters on Saturday, 6 March 2026.

He predicted the war would be prolonged, but would not reach Mecca or Medina. The Golkar legislator noted thousands of Umrah pilgrims who are stranded in Saudi Arabia because they are using airlines that must transit first to the UAE, Bahrain, or Qatar.

‘The war will be long, but it will not reach Mecca or Medina. The anticipations of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) must ensure flight routes with safe airlines. The case of Umrah pilgrims stranded because they were with airlines that transit in the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar,’ Singgih said.

‘Aman (if not via transit). Travel operated by Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines is safe; Malaysia Airlines,’ he added.

Earlier, Chairman of Commission VIII DPR Marwan Dasopang proposed that the government prepare an alternative Hajj flight route via Africa if the escalation in the Middle East continues to rise. Marwan considered this option worth considering to avoid conflict-prone areas.

‘Tidak mungkin juga jemaah berlama-lama (menunggu diberangkatkan). Harus ada alternatif, umpamanya mungkinkah penerbangan dibelokkan dari Afrika,’ Marwan said at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday (6 March 2026).

‘Jadi terbang dari Jeddah menuju Nairobi, kemudian ke arah, ya pokoknya arah Afrika baru melewati lautan lepas, tidak di pinggir-pinggir kepulauan,’ he added.

According to him, the government needs to coordinate with various parties to prepare the scenario. Including airlines and other Hajj service providers.