Foreign Ministry and Hajj Ministry Urge Hajj Routes to Avoid Conflict Areas in the Persian Gulf

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) is fully coordinating with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) to ensure the security and safety of Hajj pilgrims for 2026, including issuing advisories regarding flight routes. Director of WNI Protection at Kemlu, Heni Hamidah, stated that this year’s Hajj flights and departures will proceed according to the Saudi Arabian government’s plans despite the dynamics of conflict in the Persian Gulf affecting countries in the region. “For Hajj travel operators, flights should endeavour to avoid conflict areas, considering there will be direct Hajj flights to Jeddah,” Heni said after a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday. She added that coordination between Kemlu and Kemenhaj for this year’s Hajj is running very well, with Kemenhaj providing regular updates on Hajj preparations in Saudi Arabia to Kemlu, and vice versa. This coordination is further optimised by the Hajj Affairs Office operating under the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, Heni noted. Meanwhile, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf stated that departures for this year’s Hajj from Indonesia will begin with the dispatch of personnel escorting pilgrims in their work areas in Saudi Arabia. “The schedule for the departure of the Indonesian Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia for 2026 starts with the advance team on 13 April 2026, followed by Airport and Medina Work Area personnel on 17 and 18 April 2026,” the Minister said during a Working Meeting (Raker) with Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Tuesday (14/4). Subsequently, he said, Mecca Work Area personnel will be dispatched in stages on 22 and 23 April 2026 to ensure readiness of services for pilgrims in the Holy Land. The Amirul Hajj is scheduled to depart on 19 May 2026. In addition, Kemenhaj has scheduled the first group of prospective Hajj pilgrims to enter Hajj assembly dormitories on 21 April and depart for the Holy Land on 22 April 2026. It is known that Indonesia has received an official Hajj quota of 221,000 people for 2026, consisting of 203,320 regular Hajj and 17,680 special Hajj.