Government Urged to Guarantee the Safety of Indonesian Umrah Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

Abidin Fikri, Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives, has urged the government to guarantee the safety and welfare of Indonesian umrah pilgrims still in Saudi Arabia. The appeal comes amid the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East following the conflict between the United States and Israel and Iran. ‘The government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and the Ministry of Transport, must conduct intensive coordination to map the data of affected pilgrims, while ensuring emergency accommodation and logistical assistance,’ Fikri said in a statement on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. He also called on the government to formulate mitigation measures to safeguard Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The government should consider the possibility of diverting flight routes and prepare a staged evacuation plan if the escalation of the conflict worsens. ‘Proactive steps must be prepared promptly. It would be unacceptable for pilgrims to be left in limbo for too long,’ Fikri said. ‘The government must be fully present and ensure that pilgrims are not stranded. Their safety and certainty of repatriation must be a priority,’ Fikri added. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Wamenhaj) Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said the government would coordinate with Saudi authorities regarding hotel relaxations resulting from the conflict in the Middle East. Dahnil understands that the Saudi authorities have the authority to manage hotel relaxations for umrah pilgrims. ‘We will discuss with the Saudi authorities about hotels. Because hotels are under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry,’ Dahnil said at Grand El Hajj Banten, on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. Separately, regarding flights, most foreign airlines are offering refunds to pilgrims who have not yet departed or those already in Saudi Arabia.