Government Urges Umrah Pilgrims to Postpone Departure to Holy Land

Jakarta – Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has urged prospective umrah pilgrims scheduled to depart to the Holy Land in the near future to postpone their departure given the increasingly volatile and unpredictable security situation in the Middle East region.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak emphasised that the advisory represents the government’s precautionary approach to ensuring the safety of Indonesian citizens.

“Considering the unpredictable conditions in the Middle East and the escalating tensions, we are urging umrah pilgrims planning to depart in the near future to postpone their departure,” said the Deputy Minister in Jakarta on Sunday.

The government has also requested umrah pilgrims currently in Saudi Arabia and their families in Indonesia to remain calm and avoid panic.

The government continues to coordinate with Saudi Arabian authorities, airlines, and umrah travel organisers (PPIU) to ensure that pilgrims experiencing delayed returns are properly accommodated.

“We continue to coordinate with Saudi Arabia, airlines, and PPIU so that pilgrims experiencing delays in their return can be housed in hotels and other safe and suitable locations,” he stated.

The government has also urged the public not to be easily influenced by unverified information. All parties have been asked to refer to official government sources to avoid misinformation that could cause public anxiety.

Regarding the implementation of the 1447 Hijri/2026 Gregorian calendar hajj season, the government has confirmed that there have been no impacts on ongoing preparations to date. All planning and coordination stages remain on schedule.

“We hope the situation normalises soon. The government will continue to monitor developments and take necessary steps to ensure the safety and comfort of pilgrims,” said the Deputy Minister.