Hajj Minister: 2026 Hajj Death Rate Still High, Evaluation Underway

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan stated his ministry will evaluate the implementation of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, with a particular focus on reducing the mortality rate among pilgrims. He noted that while the 2026 operation managed to reduce the death rate by approximately 25 percent compared to the previous year, the figure remains too high. ‘We managed to reduce the mortality rate by around 25 percent, but it is still too large. The death toll of 350-something is still significant,’ he said during the opening of the National Working Meeting for Hajj Evaluation at the Hajj Dormitory complex in Jakarta, Saturday, 4 July 2026, as quoted from the Ministry of Hajj’s YouTube channel.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will focus on improving health services for pilgrims next year and will also attempt to address the issue of overcrowding in Mina. ‘Mina was one of the weak points in services last time,’ he said. He emphasised that this evaluation marks the starting point for improving Hajj services in the coming years, noting that many shortcomings were identified. He urged that the evaluation should not conceal any problems and that mistakes should be examined without assigning blame. ‘We open up the mistakes, we open up the shortcomings with the aim of improvement, not to blame one another,’ he said.

Despite the issues, he praised the overall execution of the 2026 Hajj, claiming it was recognised by the public and various parties as one of the best implementations ever. He attributed this success to eight innovations, including provincial quota allocation, reduced Hajj costs, and the implementation of the Nusuk card. The operational period for the 2026 Indonesian Hajj officially concluded on 1 July 2026, with a total official quota of 221,000 pilgrims. The season began on 21 April 2026, with the peak of the Wukuf at Arafah on 26 May, and the mass return of pilgrims taking place from 1 to 30 June.

Chairman of House Commission VIII, Marwan Dasopang, indicated that the cost of the Hajj pilgrimage for the following year could potentially increase due to rising taxes and prices in Saudi Arabia. Despite this, the Commission hopes to avoid any increase and plans to discuss with the Ministry of Hajj to identify budget items that can be reduced, such as flight costs.