Hajj Minister Apologises for Service Shortcomings as Pilgrims Depart

JAKARTA – Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf has apologised for any shortcomings in the 2026 Hajj service provision during the departure of the first group of Indonesian pilgrims from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Sunday, 31 May 2026, evening Saudi time.

In a statement released on Monday, 1 June 2026, Irfan said: ‘On behalf of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah family, we apologise if there were any obstacles and shortcomings in the service process. We have done our best to provide the best service.’ He added: ‘All these shortcomings are what we deeply apologise for.’

During the departure ceremony, the minister visited pilgrims from the SUB-01 contingent, greeting and shaking hands with those ready to return home after completing their Hajj rituals.

‘After a 40-day journey with various dynamics, Alhamdulillah, you are now ready to return home,’ he said. He also prayed for the pilgrims to be mabrur.

The first wave of departures is scheduled from Jeddah between 1 June and 15 June 2026, while the second wave through Medina from 7 June to 30 June 2026.

Inspector General of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, retired Major General of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Dendi Suryadi explained that the repatriation follows a sequential system based on the initial departure schedule from Indonesia. ‘The first group left Indonesia on 22 April 2026; ideally, they should be the first to return on 1 June,’ Dendi said during an interview with the Hajj Media Centre in Mina on Friday, 29 May 2026. He added that the schedule forms the foundation for logistics planning, including hotel rooms, bus fleets to the airport, and flight slots, though minor adjustments of up to 20% may occur.