First Wave of Indonesian Pilgrims Depart from Medina for Mecca
Ahead of the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage, all Indonesian pilgrims in the first wave who stayed in Medina have been transported to Mecca.
The Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH) of the Medina work area has completed the service phase for the first wave of regular Hajj pilgrims after the last three groups departed for Mecca on Friday morning, May 15, 2026. This departure marks the end of operations transporting Indonesian pilgrims from the City of the Prophet to the Holy Land.
The last three groups came from Embarkation UPG 21, KJT 20, and BTH 14, totaling around 1,278 pilgrims. Before continuing their journey to Mecca, all pilgrims first stopped at Miqat Bir Ali to perform the ihram ritual and pray.
The Head of PPIH for the Medina work area, Khalilurrahman, said that the entire process of transporting pilgrims on the last day went smoothly and was well-controlled.
“Thank God, the whole series went orderly and according to plan. Today (Friday), Medina is officially starting to be empty of regular Hajj pilgrims in the first wave,” he said while monitoring the departure process of pilgrims at Bir Ali, as reported on the Ministry of Religious Affairs website, Saturday.
Since Friday at 06:00 WAS, Khalilurrahman has been in Sector 2 to oversee the departure of BTH 14 pilgrims from the hotel to Bir Ali. After ensuring that all pilgrims moved safely, he continued monitoring to the miqat area.
At Bir Ali, Khalilurrahman boarded several buses to greet each pilgrim individually. He conveyed prayers and messages of encouragement while also reminding them of the importance of maintaining their health before the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage in Armuzna.
“Hopefully, all of you will be given good health, made easy to carry out all the rituals, obtain a blessed Hajj, and return to your homeland with your families in good health,” he said to the pilgrims.
He also ensured that pilgrims who were still undergoing treatment in hospitals or the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI) would continue to receive full attention from the medical team. According to him, families at home do not need to worry because all sick pilgrims will be transported to Mecca after being declared fit to travel by doctors.
Even though the number of pilgrims departing on the last day was not as many as in previous days, the service provided by officers remained carried out to the maximum. The Head of PPIH Sector Bir Ali, Divia Ardianto, affirmed that all personnel were still on full alert until the last departure.