Hajj costs and the state’s role

Do not let legal cases such as the 2024 Hajj quota case happen again

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and House of Representatives Commission VIII have set the average cost of organising the 1448 Hijri/2027 Hajj at Rp98,466,351.35 per person.

The figure is about Rp11,056,985.90 higher than the previous year’s Hajj costs. The increase has been driven by various factors, including aviation fuel, service costs in Saudi Arabia and fluctuations in the rupiah exchange rate.

However, the increase in the total cost of organising the Hajj does not automatically mean pilgrims will have to pay more to settle their bills.

A working committee’s deliberations set the Hajj travel cost, or Bipih, borne by pilgrims at 55.5 per cent of the total BPIH, or an average of Rp54,648,825 per person.

The remaining 44.5 per cent, averaging Rp43,817,526.35, will come from the benefits generated by the management of Hajj funds by the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH).

By comparison, the cost of organising the 2026 Hajj was set at Rp87,409,365.45 per person.

Of that amount, pilgrims paid Rp54,193,806.58 directly, or 62 per cent of the total, while Rp33,215,558.87, or 38 per cent, came from returns on the management of Hajj funds.

Amount payable

Pilgrims will not have to pay the full Bipih of Rp54,648,825 when settling their bills. The amount will be reduced by the initial deposit of Rp25 million and about Rp3.4 million in Virtual Account benefits from BPKH.

Notably, President Prabowo Subianto has taken an interest in setting the 2027 Hajj costs. Through House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, the President said he would subsidise about Rp3 million of the amount payable by each pilgrim.

As a result, pilgrims will have an average outstanding balance of Rp23,048,825 to settle.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said the financing structure had been determined through calculations that took account of fairness, accountability and the long-term sustainability of Hajj finances.

“We are committed to ensuring that the quality of services for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims in the Holy Land remains optimal, while balancing the burden on pilgrims with the optimisation of the benefits generated by the funds,” said the minister, commonly known as Gus Irfan.

The setting of the 2027 BPIH also takes into account revised exchange-rate assumptions used in calculating Hajj costs: US$1 to Rp17,500 and one Saudi riyal to Rp4,666.67.

The government, through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has pledged to continue making efficiencies across all areas of service for pilgrims, both in Indonesia and during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The measures are intended to ensure that the use of Hajj funds is accountable while providing pilgrims with optimal services.