DPR: Major Improvements in Hajj Services Compared to Previous Years

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, Chairman of the DPR-RI Oversight Team for the 2026 Hajj, praised the organisation of this year’s Hajj. He said many improvements have been made compared to previous years’ services. ‘Many improvements have been made compared to previous years’ Hajj services,’ he said during the Arafah Sermon broadcast by the Hajj Media Centre on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. However, he did not specify which aspects had been enhanced. ‘Hundreds of thousands of Indonesian pilgrims truly feel well-served,’ said the PKB faction’s Deputy Speaker of the DPR. He added that the DPR and Ministry of Hajj will continue to collaborate in monitoring and improving Hajj services until pilgrims return home, including jointly evaluating the ongoing Hajj rituals at their peak. The peak Hajj rituals began today, Tuesday, 26 May 2026, with the wuquf at Arafah. After the wuquf ceremony, pilgrims will spend the night in Muzdalifah before proceeding to Mina for the stoning the Jamarat ritual. These three critical phases are known as the Armuzna phase, an acronym for Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina. The first wave of 103,732 pilgrims, comprising 267 groups, arrived at Medina Airport between 22 April and 6 May 2026. The second wave arrived via King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, consisting of 260 groups and 98,904 pilgrims.