Government Agrees on 10 Mitigation Measures for Umrah Pilgrims Amid Middle East Conflict
Jakarta — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) RI, together with other ministries and stakeholders involved in organising Umrah, has agreed on 10 mitigation steps to respond to the evolving security situation in the Middle East region, which impacts Umrah journeys.
Director-General of Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage Management, Puji Raharjo, emphasised that the safety of pilgrims is the government’s top priority. “Our thinking framework is clear: the safety of pilgrims comes first. A postponement is not a cancellation, but a risk mitigation measure. This demonstrates that the state is present to ensure protection, certainty, and calm for all pilgrims,” Puji said, quoted from a press release, Wednesday (4 March 2026).
The government has built a joint agreement to address the impact of the situation in the Middle East, both in monitoring developments and in risk mitigation steps to ensure the safety and protection of pilgrims.
“We will ensure that cross‑sector coordination is continually strengthened to safeguard the safety, comfort, and certainty of service for Indonesian Umrah pilgrims,” Puji said.
It was agreed to establish an Integrated Coordination Centre among stakeholders, namely the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah RI, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs RI, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, Airlines, and Umrah Travel Organisers (PPIU).
All stakeholders commit to data exchange or updating information required to manage Umrah travel.
The Ministry of Transportation commits to facilitating extra flight permissions and aviation permits for airlines in need.
The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections commits to facilitating cancellations or postponements of departures for pilgrims/passengers who wish to delay their departure but have already obtained visas.
Major airlines commit to transferring passengers to partner companies and to seeking extra flights to transport pilgrims stranded in Jeddah and Madinah.
Organisers of Umrah Travel (PPIU) who still dispatch pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, considering they are bound by service contracts and have incurred substantial costs, must guarantee the safety and security of their pilgrims until they return home, and PPIUs must educate pilgrims about the current conditions in the Middle East region.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah RI will communicate compensation/restitution/refund for visas, accommodation, meals, and ground transportation for prospective Umrah pilgrims who fail to depart due to flight bans in several transit countries.