Hajj Pilgrims Depart via Mekkah Route, No Longer Need to Go Through Immigration Process

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Since the start of Hajj operations on 22 April 2026, Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have begun departing in stages via several embarkation points that have implemented the Mekkah Route service.

Pilgrims are departing from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Jakarta), Adi Soemarmo Airport (Solo), Juanda Airport (Surabaya), and Sultan Hasanuddin Airport (Makassar), heading to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah.

“Upon arrival in Madinah, pilgrims are directly directed to their accommodations without having to go through the immigration process again,” said the Indonesian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Irfan Yusuf, in a press statement on Friday (24/4/2026).

This is one of the main advantages of the “Mekkah Route”, designed to provide maximum comfort for pilgrims from departure until arrival in the Holy Land.

In addition, pilgrims’ baggage has been arranged and sent directly to their accommodation in Saudi Arabia in accordance with transportation and accommodation arrangements.

“This integrated process from Indonesia not only speeds up services but also provides comfort and certainty for pilgrims upon arrival in the Holy Land,” he stated.

The Hajj Minister said that the “Mekkah Route” is a tangible manifestation of the state’s commitment to improving the quality of Hajj worship services for pilgrims.

“We want to ensure that every pilgrim gets a better, more orderly, and more humane worship experience,” he added.

“They can focus more on performing their worship,” said the Hajj Minister.

Previously, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Ahmad, expressed thanks to the Saudi Arabian government for the fast-track service or “Mekkah Route”.

“Alhamdulillah, we thank the Saudi Arabian government which has enabled us to channel immigration processes quickly through the fast track, Thariq Mekkah,” said Abdul Aziz, when welcoming the Jakarta Pondok Gede (JKG) Hajj group pilgrims who arrived on the first day of arrival, Wednesday (22/4/2026).

Thus, all Indonesian Hajj pilgrims can directly head to the buses and be taken to their respective hotels.

“For now, only half of them. In the future, we hope all pilgrims will experience processes like this (fast track),” he said.