Foreign Ministry Assures Hajj 2026 Will Proceed as Scheduled

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) has assured that the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage will proceed according to schedule despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens (WNI) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni Hamidah, stated that her office is continuously coordinating with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenhaj) regarding the situation in the Middle East.

“So far, the Hajj is still on schedule,” said Heni at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Jakarta on Thursday (16/4/2026).

Nevertheless, Heni requested that airlines carrying prospective Hajj pilgrims avoid conflict areas.

“For travel agents and Hajj organisers, flights should avoid conflict zones if possible; previously, some go directly to Jeddah or Saudi Arabia,” said Heni.

Previously, the Minister of Religious Affairs, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, stated that preparations for the 2026 Hajj services are increasingly mature, nearly 100 percent complete.

Irfan mentioned that the government has prepared everything, from accommodation, meals, transportation, to health services for Hajj pilgrims.

For accommodation, the government has prepared 177 hotels in Mecca and 100 hotels in Medina.

In the Mecca area, the accommodations are located in Jarwal, Misfalah, Raudhah, Syisyah, and Aziziah, while in Medina, all hotels are in the Markaziah area.

The government has also prepared 40 health clinics in Mecca and 5 clinics in Medina.

“Each batch consists of one doctor and one health worker,” said Irfan.